Unleashing power of storytelling in wildlife conservation

BAGAMOYO: JOURNALISTS have been called upon to upscale the way they investigate, balance and report on environmental issues so as to save the country; its people and fauna and flora from extermination.

A seasoned Media Trainer and Mentor, Ms Pili Mtambalike, underscored the point in Bagamoyo recently where he guided members of the Journalists’ Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) members from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar on the ethos of journalism on that specialty.

In the tailor-made training class that was sponsored by the ‘USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasii Activity’, Ms Mtambalike noted that the journalist’s toolbox should go beyond facts and figures, instead seek to bring about the impact of storytelling.

She said storytelling engages and resonates with the audience, so journalists engaging in writing and broadcasting about environmental issues should understand the power of storytelling in captivating and involving the audience.

“You need to connect emotionally, as that is the key to lasting impact. I empasise the importance of emotional connection for enduring influence of stories,” said the journalism guru.

Ms Mtambalike reffered to the essence of wildlife conservation stories, as showcasing biodiversity, by highlighting the intricate web of ecosystems. She called upon them to focus on the diversity of ecosystems as an essential element of wildlife conservation.

She emphasized the need to personalise the narrative by introducing individual animals, meaning to bring attention to individual animal stories to personalise wildlife conservation, be they elephant, lion, leopard, rhino or buffalo.

The retired scribe said there is a need to build empathy; the emotional connection between humans and wildlife., showcasing the emotional bond between humans and wildlife to inspire empathy.

She spoke of the power of imagination; sparking curiosity and concern, calling upon the scribes to harness the audience’s imagination to ignite curiosity and foster concern for wildlife.

As for the art of vivid description, painting a picture with words, Ms Mtambalike noted that journalists, especially those specializing on environmental news, should explore the use of descriptive language to create vivid mental images.

They should also harness sensory details; transporting the audience to the wild, by utilising sensory descriptions to transport the audience into the natural world.

In leveraging Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) narratives, Ms Mtambalike said journalists are duty-bound to address real-world issues, one distinct area being to address real human-wildlife conflicts.

She accentuated on the necessity for journalists to balance perspectives; the complexities of human-wildlife interactions. They should explore the multifaceted nature of human-wildlife interactions and the need for balanced storytelling.

It is their duty too, she underlined, to propose solutions, inspiring action through informed storytelling. They will be empowering the audience to take action through the presentation of solutions in storytelling.

She pointed out the journey of a conservation story as thorough research and preparation that is the foundation for impactful storytelling, followed by field reporting by immersing oneself in the environment, so as to be able to highlight the importance of firsthand experience in capturing the essence of wildlife conservation.

Ms Mtambalike insisted of the importance of journalists collaborating with experts so as to ensure accuracy and depth.