Media Participation in Environmental Remediation: An Assessment of Helon Habila’s Oil on Water

Abstract

The imperative for proactive measures to combat escalating environmental degradation underscores the pressing need for innovative solutions. This study delves into the pivotal role of media practice in advocating for environmental justice, with a specific focus on Helon Habila’s novel, Oil on Water. Through an analysis of media portrayal, particularly that of investigative journalists, the paper explores their efforts in highlighting environmental issues and proposing non-violent remediation strategies. The historical nexus between the environment and media, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century, reveals a significant evolution in environmental journalism. From comprehensive coverage of events like nuclear testing and toxic smogs in the 1950s and 1960s to heightened awareness due to man-made disasters like the Ozone Hole (reported since the late 1970s), Three Mile Island (1979), Bhopal (1984), Chernobyl (1986), and the Exxon Valdez disaster (1989), the media played a crucial role in shaping public perception and policy responses. Drawing from ecocritical and postcolonial theoretical frameworks, this analysis traces the evolution of environmental reporting and emphasises the media’s role in raising awareness about environmental crises. Despite occasional instances of bias or propagandism, the study underscores the media’s potential to challenge power structures and advocate for social change and development. Ultimately, the paper concludes that, through informed and impactful storytelling, the media can promote environmental justice and facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices.