Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Eco-Manual for Journalists

TEGUCIGALPA, Mar 1 2004 (IPS) - The Honduran Environmental Prosecutor has published a manual for journalists that explains the agency's legal and judicial procedures in handling environmental crimes, as well as actions for protecting ecosystems.

The manual is an attempt to help the communications media to better understand and better found their stories on environmental issues, “given that lack of knowledge of some technical terminology sometimes leads to incorrect interpretations,” environmental prosecutor Mario Chinchilla told Tierramérica.

“The Honduran Manual for Environmental Journalists” explains the various steps in dealing with a crime against the environment and contains concepts, guidelines and contact information for related government agencies and offices.

This new tool will help orient journalists' work, but more training is needed in order to raise awareness in the media, according to members of the media. “Often the media ignore our denunciations because of lack of understanding,” said environmental journalist Dolores Valenzuela.