By Lenah Bosibori
Mongabay, an international conservation news outlet has officially unveiled its Swahili platform targeting more than 200 million speakers across the East Africa region and millions more across the world.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, David Akana the Director of Programs for Mongabay Africa, underscored the importance of local languages in communicating environment issues that African audiences can relate to.
“While English might be important for us to use in this region, we also recognize that using local languages is even more appropriate, as our communities engage and transact through them more,” he said.
The hybrid event themed “Truth in the age of noise: Conservation journalism, disinformation and the promise of artificial intelligence” brought together nearly 200 participants, who comprised of journalists, conservationists, scientists, UNEP representatives, communicators, indigenous community representatives, among others.
Akana further said that the new platform is an important step towards making environmental and climate reporting more accessible in one of Africa’s most widely spoken languages. “This is aimed at strengthening conversations around nature, conservation, and sustainable development across East Africa,” he said.
Mongabay’s core reporting is on the intersection of people and nature, primarily biodiversity, climate change, pollution, land degradation, oceans and how these issues relate to people. The African team is focused on solutions, even as it puts to task governments, local and global actors that may be reneging on their mandates in sustainable conservation.
In her part Ann Ngugi, a former BBC journalist, stressed that truth and information are meaningless if they do not reach the intended audience. According to Ngugi, it is only by using locally appreciated and accessible languages such as Swahili that even vulnerable communities can access information timely and increase their disaster preparedness, adaptation and resilience in the face of worsening climate disasters.
“Information justice means that a farmer, a motorbike rider, a pastoralist, a fisherman, each has the same access to climate information as a scientist in another part of the world. That is the opportunity offered by Mongabay Swahili,” she said,
She reiterated that language should not be a barrier to making communities resilient. Ngugi observed that this meant synthesizing and simplifying jargon like carbon credits, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss, among others, for communities to understand.
Eng. John Kipchmba Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, in a speech read on his behalf by Temesi Mukani, the Secretary, Information and Broadcasting highlighted the importance of credible and science-based journalism in enabling informed public understanding and decision-making in this digital age.
“In a continent that harbors more than 400 million social media users, this is fertile ground for disinformation. This makes credible journalism more important than ever, in languages that are most understood by communities in cities, informal settlements and the grassroots,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of platforms that prioritize fact-based reporting and scientific evidence, saying they play a key role in protecting the integrity of public discourse. the PS said the launch of the Mongabay Swahili platform was a significant step towards strengthening environmental journalism in the region.
“Language determines who can access knowledge and participate in public conversations. Reporting environmental issues in Swahili, therefore, helps bring science and biodiversity issues to those most affected,” he said.
On his part, Temesi stressed the dual impact of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on information production, verification and sharing. “While artificial intelligence presents risks such as the spread of manipulated or misleading content, it also offers powerful tools of fact checking, translation, data analysis, and wider dissemination of knowledge,” said Temesi.
He further added that when used responsibly, technology can significantly strengthen the quality and reach of environmental reporting. Andy Kagwa, the Standard Group Operations Editor, stressed that journalists must embrace technology, particularly AI, because it is shaping communication.
He noted that the negative bit about AI, such as misleading narratives, generated images and fake stories for clicks, which led to misinformation, must be countered by upholding the principles of responsible journalism.
“AI will shape the future of journalism. It is not going to replace us as some people think. The core values of journalism must be upheld. You must verify and ensure that you are accountable to what you give out to your audience through your different platforms,” he said.
Kagwa observed that despite the integration of AI into journalism, the fundamental principles of credibility and the essential human element in storytelling must be preserved. “Even when looking at speed and accuracy, editors and reporters must ensure that whatever we give out to the public is credible,” he said.
Speakers agreed that traditional media continues to play a critical role in shaping public understanding of environmental and conservation issues. However, in an increasingly competitive digital information landscape, media organizations must adapt while upholding the tools of responsible journalism. Besides Swahili, Mongabay publishes in several languages, including English, Indonesian, Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese, and Bengali.