Support Local Environmental Journalism

Kuala Lumpur 20 December 2021: The ongoing devastating floods are the latest of major environmental issues plaguing Malaysia. Environmental issues are complex, and require careful, fact-based and analytical journalism to help Malaysians understand causes, effects and solutions.

As the country’s only specialist environmental journalism outfit, Macaranga (www.macaranga.org) is expanding to cover these stories. They are running a campaign asking for contributions to keep going and growing in 2022. (www.macaranga.org/be-a-supporter)

“There is a gap in in-depth, balanced and relevant journalism locally, to address the huge issues related to the environment, climate crisis and sustainability,” said Wong Siew Lyn, one of Macaranga’s two founders.

Over the last two years, Macaranga has published over 90 stories on issues in Malaysia, ranging from forest-use, marine issues, the impact of Covid on environmental sectors and pollution.

Key stories have been supported by grants from the Pulitzer Centre and Earth Journalism Network. The dissemination of some of their stories have also been generously supported by established media such as Malaysiakini.

“We are grateful that our stories have been quoted and used in many reports, in conferences and by government agencies, researchers and even business groups,” said co-founder Law Yao Hua, a Pulitzer Centre Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow.

The pair is also training and mentoring new environmental journalists and curating commentaries by experts in the field. They also do a monthly wrap-up on BFM89.9 Radio on the big environmental news of the month.

Run entirely by Wong and Law, Macaranga is seeking funds to cover editorial costs which includes paying contributing writers and other content producers, and to cover operational costs.

“Fair and balanced journalism can add nuance and depth to an issue, rather than just have people pointing figures,” said Wong. Added Law, ”But good journalism is expensive and time-consuming, so we are asking for support to cover these pressing issues in Malaysia and planet earth.”

The Macaranga Supporters Campaign runs through the month of December. For more information and to contribute, please go to www.macaranga.org/be-a-supporter/ or email [email protected]

MACARANGA is a journalism portal covering the environment and sustainability in Malaysia. We provide in-depth journalistic features on issues and build knowledge about ecosystems.

This content is provided by MACARANGA.

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