Environmental Journalism as the Earth's Conscience and the Voice of a Present-Future in the Media World: An analytical Review
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Environmental journalism has evolved from a niche beat into a central civic function that translates complex science into public understanding, shapes policy agendas, and mobilizes collective action as climate risk, biodiversity loss, and pollution intensify. This qualitative research paper synthesizes scholarship and practice on environmental journalism through 2025, examining its historical development, theoretical foundations, digital transformation, and exposure to platform-driven misinformation. Through systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature, international organization reports, and documented case studies, this research explores emblematic cases across investigative, visual, and data journalism while interrogating coverage imbalances that marginalize the Global South. The study employs thematic analysis to evaluate region-specific dynamics, including the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, and foregrounds ethical standards, safety protocols, and capacity building for journalists. The research examines how innovations in data analytics, earth observation, and artificial intelligence augment reporting capabilities while proposing comprehensive frameworks to measure media impact on attitudes, behavior, markets, and policy. The findings reveal that environmental journalism functions as critical democratic infrastructure, yet faces significant challenges including resource constraints, escalating safety threats, and sophisticated information disorder. The paper concludes with a policy and practice agenda to fortify environmental journalism's credibility, equity, and effectiveness, emphasizing the need for sustainable business models, enhanced professional standards, and stronger institutional support. Evidence is drawn from peer-reviewed literature, international organizations (IPCC, WMO, UNEP, UNESCO), news industry research (Reuters Institute), and documented case studies spanning 2020-2025.