At a time when the climate crisis is reshaping economies, displacing communities, and testing leadership across Africa, Senanu Damilola Wemakor believes one group holds untapped power: digital journalists.
Speaking at the TN Africa Digital Journalism Summit 2025 in Accra, Africa’s first-ever digital journalism summit, the Ghana Representative for TN Africa and convener of the event urged African journalists to move beyond surface-level environmental coverage and use their influence to demand accountability from those in power.
The summit, held at the British Council in Accra on October 22, brought together leading journalists, climate advocates, digital creators, and policymakers under the theme “Shaping Africa’s Future Through Climate Journalism.”
The TN Africa Digital Journalism Summit 2025 was convened by Senanu Damilola Wemakor, Ghana Representative of TN Africa, as part of the organization’s StoryTheChange initiative, a movement to strengthen climate reporting and youth-driven storytelling across the continent.
“We are the most equipped generation to hold those in power accountable,” Wemakor said firmly. “Because we have the tools, the reach, and the voice to make climate change impossible to ignore.”
His words came against the backdrop of new data showing Africa’s second warmest year on record in 2024, with climate-related floods, heatwaves, and food insecurity worsening across the continent.
Yet, he lamented, the African media has not always connected the dots between policy, pollution, and public life.
“We report the floods and the heat, but not the systems that make them worse,” he said. “That must change.”
The TN Africa summit, which convened journalists, creators, and environmental advocates, explored how digital storytelling can shift public behavior and policy conversations.
Wemakor called on the media to act as educators, watchdogs, and bridge-builders between science and society.
“Climate journalism is a duty we owe the earth and posterity,” he said. “Our work must demystify the science and bring people to action.”
He emphasized the need for inter-stakeholder collaboration, noting that no single newsroom or influencer can drive climate awareness alone.
“A handful of lighted coal will burn brighter and longer than one,” he said, encouraging journalists to share data, skills, and platforms.
Wemakor also warned against the dangers of misinformation and partisan framing, insisting that climate reporting must be guided by accuracy, objectivity, and balance.
He framed the summit as part of TN Africa’s broader commitment to credible journalism and youth-driven social progress, a reminder that storytelling is both a craft and a responsibility.
“Climate change is not just a natural disaster. It’s a story about leadership, responsibility, and the future we choose to build,” he said.
As the session closed, his final words left an echo that summed up the day’s urgency:
“Our generation has no excuse. We have the platforms, the tools, and the voice. Let’s use them.”