Framing the Climate Crisis: The Role of Photojournalism in Environmental Awareness

Christian Torres


For my midterm project, I’ll focus on photojournalism and the climate crisis, specifically examining how environmental issues like wildfires, floods, and hurricanes are portrayed using media. I’ll touch on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and how photographs of oil soaked coastlines shocked the world. I’ll also examine the California wildfires, where photojournalists captured the intensity of the flames. The ongoing deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest will be another thing I’ll focus on, showing images of huge areas of empty tree space. And finally, the coverage of Hurricane Katrina, where photojournalism exposed the human toll and infrastructure failures. By looking at these events, my goal is to show how photojournalism shapes public perception and influences policies related to climate change. 


Photo by Harley Soltes/The Seattle Times

Photo by WUSA

The photos of the Exxon Valdez oil spill showed the devastation that happened to wildlife and ecosystems and pushed for greater environmental protections. They showed the public how human negligience can harm the environment .





Photo by Noah Berger/AP File

Photo by Sopa Images/Getty Images

Through photojournalism, photojournalists have been able to illustrate the severity of California wildfires. These visuals have helped drive climate action by raising public awareness and urging policy changes. I also think it's important to note the bravery shown by many of the photojournalists who go out in these extreme conditions to capture these moments. 





Photo by PARALAXIS on Shuttershock / Medium


Photo by AP Photo/Andre Penner

Seeing these images of the deforestation taking place in the Amazon can make people feel feelings of guilt, sadness, and responsibility, considering our race is the one committing these acts. It may also inspire a sense of urgency and the need for immediate action to protect what remains of the Amazon environment.





Photo 1(Top) by r/interestingasfuck (Reddit)
Photo 2(Bottom) by JAMES NIELSEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images


Photo by Mario Tama / Getty Images

I think it goes without saying that the photojournalists who stayed after Hurricane Katrina showed great compassion by continuing to document the long-term recovery. They helped keep the struggles of those who survived in the public eye. Their dedication helped ensure that the people, along with their needs, were not forgotten. They helped amplify voices that might have otherwise been overlooked.






Sources Cited:


https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/10-photos-tell-story-exxon-valdez-oil-spill-and-its-impacts.html​

https://darrp.noaa.gov/oil-spills/exxon-valdez#:~:text=What%20Were%20the%20Impacts%3F,for%20local%20industries%20and%20communities.​

https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/exxon-valdez-oil-spill​

https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/wildfires-in-the-united-states-101-context-and-consequences/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmt24BhDPARIsAJFYKk0B3x8SaqB_5o8_3NThs_8ftPwzDJK8sPE260KxWCJgFqd2r7X7FD8aAvowEALw_wcB​

https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disasters/2024-north-american-wildfires/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmt24BhDPARIsAJFYKk2iydrYBo2dM0k-miqKH4vPtsWbp3JFBlV83FTfRt8sxUBn-78W-L4aAubEEALw_wcB​

https://nppa.org/magazine/article/photojournalists-and-california-wildfires​

https://www.grizzlycorps.org/post/wildfire-photography-documentation-of-wildfire-in-its-many-forms​

https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/deforestation-in-the-amazon-rainforest​

https://www.fastcompany.com/90399868/a-photographers-race-to-document-the-destruction-of-the-amazon-rain-forest​

https://www.all-about-photo.com/photo-articles/photo-article/792/amazon-deforestation-by-victor-moriyama​

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901122000582​

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/us/nationalspecial/superdome-haven-quicklybecomes-an-ordeal.html​

https://www.invisibleculturejournal.com/pub/spectacular-disaster/release/1​

https://www.fosters.com/story/news/2005/08/29/superdome-shelters-city-s-poor/53174461007/​

https://medium.com/@claryestesphoto/the-brave-new-world-of-photojournalism-35e6b95a96cf​

https://niemanreports.org/articles/a-tragedy-illuminates-the-ethical-dimensions-of-picture-taking/​

https://niemanreports.org/articles/photojournalism-students-cover-hurricane-katrina-in-their-first-leap-into-a-real-world-crisis/​


















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