Communicating a World-in-Crisis: (31 Global Crises and the Media)

We live in a world increasingly defined by systemic, deepening and compounding crises. They threaten not only future human existence but also the planetary web-of-life. With the help of academics, creative practitioners and activists, this book explores some of the innovative ways in which different media, communicative fields, and creative practices are seeking to make a difference. From different forms of journalism and participative documentary to climate photography and ecosophical film; from radical theatre, eco-literature and eco-art to green festivals, popular music and immersive museums; and from journalism training in the climate emergency and sustainability education to communicating with ‘whole intelligence’ and ‘integrated intelligence’ beyond AI (artificial intelligence). This panoramic approach enables us to see how diverse communicative fields are engaging with some of the most critical concerns of our times – and what can be learned, shared and developed further in the challenging years ahead.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures – List of Tables – Preface – Simon Cottle: Introduction: Communicating a World-in-Crisis – Simon Cottle: Reporting a World-in-Crisis: On Silence, Silos and the Symbiocene – Victoria Fielding: Evaluating Reporting Roles in Climate Disasters – César Jiménez-Martínez: Reporting Protests and the Planetary Emergency – Elke Weissmann/Belinda Tyrrell: From Climate Crisis to Environment(al) Hope: Community, Affect and Local Television – Kerrie Foxwell-Norton/Bridget Backhaus/Troy Meston with Wilcannia River Radio: First Nations Community Media and the Climate Crisis: Towards Radical Eco-Communicative Democracy – Steve Muggeridge: Green Festivals and Re-figurative Politics: Communicating Resilience and Hope – Niina Uusitalo: Fantasy in Visual Spectacles of Climate Change – Michelle Johnston/Mignon Shardlow: Earthship Freo: A Case Study of the Potential and Limitations of Participatory Documentary Filmmaking – Kingsley Marshall: The New Weird: Independent Cinema as an Ecosophical Response to Climate Change – Pippa Marland: ‘There’s something you need to hear’: The Literature of Environmental Crisis – Carrie Westwater: From Hidden Wars to Hidden Theatre: Embodying a World-in-Crisis – Ruth Wallen: Visionary Ecoart: Stories for Regenerative Ecologies – Simon Kerr: Music in an Era of Planetary Discontinuity: What Music Can and Can’t Do in This Crisis – Jenny Kidd/Salsabilla Sakinah: Communicating ‘Stories That Matter’: Activist Museography and Immersive Practice in the Climate Emergency – Ron Johnston: Communicating Sustainability: Science Literacy and Transformative Pedagogies – Chris Paterson: ‘All Journalists Will be Environmental Journalists Tomorrow’: On Problems, Pedagogy and Prospects – Malcolm Parlett: Communicating Whole Intelligence to Regenerate the Living Human World – Jeremy Lent: Beyond Artificial Intelligence: Toward Integrated Intelligence for a World-in-Crisis – Simon Cottle: Cultural Response and Creative Resilience: A Personal Reflection – Notes on Contributors – Index.

About the Author :
Simon Cottle is Professor Emeritus, Media and Communication, in the School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC) at Cardiff University where he was Deputy Head and Head of School. He is the author of many books and articles and is the Series Editor for the Global Crises and the Media Series. He is currently writing and lecturing on journalism and our world-in-crisis.

Review :
“We’ve morphed from local creatures into global beings and we need a new vocabulary to convey this: Symbiocene, Integrated Intelligence, Eco-Communicative Democracy. These are new terms used in discussing a desirable future in this important book. A must for anyone wanting to communicate ways out of a world in crisis.” —Herbert Girardet, author, co-founder World Future Council, member of the Club of Rome