Does the margin have a voice? The role of journalists in reporting disparities in climate change risks in Tunisia

Tunisia (Global South) has been grappling with the adverse effects of climate change, especially Kerkennah Islands, located at the eastern coast, which has been vulnerable to the impact of climate change, e.g., rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. These climate challenges have a significant impact on the island’s inhabitants, who primarily rely on agriculture and fishing for living. The island has experienced protests against an oil company’s activities and perceived them as harmful to the local ecosystem. This highlights the intricate interplay between environmental, economic, and social dimensions in the context of climate change in Kerkennah. These challenges prompt a reconsideration of journalism’s traditional role as a media enterprise that provides news to its audience, towards a more community-oriented approach that promotes sustainability, resilience, and adaptability in the face of global climate change. This shift rises innovative reporting forms such as solutions journalism, which emphasise practical solutions and innovations for mitigating the impact of climate change. While journalists are increasingly seen as advocates for action on climate change, little is known about their perceptions of roles and challenges they face when reporting climate change. This chapter explores the advocacy roles of Tunisian journalists in reporting on climate change, using in-depth interviews with prominent journalists to understand how they perceive and report climate change debate to gain the public attention, and when they move beyond factual reporting to advocacy in their coverage. This chapter revealed that Tunisian journalists perceive the need to adopt a more engaged stance characterised by moral partisanship and advocacy, as well as to strategically amplify youth voices in climate justice activism. Social justice events were the primary drivers of climate change reports, while policy developments and political agendas were less importance. Instead, issue entrepreneurs or claims-makers play a crucial role in generating interest in climate change reporting.