Making Waves: Ocean Media Landscape Report

As our planet grapples with the escalating consequences of declining ocean health, the urgency for a unified global response has never been more apparent. Much action is needed in the collective effort for a healthier marine environment and the protection of ecosystems and livelihoods that depend on it. As a powerful driver of environmental issues onto the public agenda, media coverage of ocean stories often falls short in fostering a deeper understanding of why caring for the ocean means caring for people and the planet.

This study was developed by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network to help underpin initiatives contributing to more impactful ocean storytelling. The main insights include:

• Understanding how experts in various related fields perceive ocean reporting, key topics, and gaps in coverage and knowledge to determine how to best report on ocean issues
• Identifying opportunities to increase coverage, build capacity, collaborate, and investigate both in reporting and public awareness
• Pinpointing the central messages that need to be communicated around environmental and socioeconomic impacts and their drivers, taking underrepresented voices into consideration
• Identifying key stakeholders and audiences and gauging public levels of knowledge and awareness while exploring ways to measure impact
• Finding opportunities for engagement and network building

You can join the conversation and learn more about ocean reporting at our upcoming webinar with Pulitzer Center Ocean Editor Jessica Aldred and grantees and contributors to recent ocean projects on December 3, 2024.

Credits:

Executive Director: Jon Sawyer 

Research Concept: Flora Pereira da Silva

Authors and Research Leads: Bianca Fermiano and Paula Goerg 

Project Coordination: Bruna Wagner and Jessica Aldred

Digital Researchers: Gustavo Faleiros, Jelter Meers, Jonatan Rodríguez, and Sarah Swan

Proofreaders: Alexandra Waddell and Dana Thompson

Graphic Design: Natan Aquino, Lucille Crelli, and Grazielle Tagliamento

Collaborators: Afy Malungu, Eric Selemani, Ethan Widlansky, Fareed Mostoufi, Grenti Paramitha, Intan Febriani, Katherine Jossi, Maria Darrigo, Marina Walker Guevara, and Vijitra Duangdee