The book Reporting the Southern African Environment: A media handbook, is an attempt to create and raise awareness of the value of effectively communicating the environment among journalists.

The handbook has various chapters dealing with different topics about the environment such as reporting on population studies, water issues and biological diversity. Each chapter gives a summary of what the subject entails and how best the journalist can report on it.

The chapter on water emphasises the journalist's creativity in reporting on water related issues. There are some countries in the region that do not have efficient waste-treatment systems such as Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania. The author questions the impact this state of affairs has had on the people in these countries.

Water issues provide unlimited story angles for an enterprising journalist. One such angle would be to focus on laws and regulations dealing with toxic substances and whether they are enforced. The handbook calls on discerning environmental journalists to get off the beaten path, and question the usual in order to discover what lies behind so many things taken for granted."

Of particular importance, is the journalist's ability to judge her/his own work and see whether the article explains the subject comprehensively. It also states that it is vital for the journalist to liven articles with quotes and anecdotes instead of emphasising on statistics and facts that may mean nothing to the reader. To illustrate this, it gives examples of stories that are badly written and gives advice to the journalist on how these mistakes can be avoided.

"Don't be a sucker for jargon," the book warns journalists, adding that a good writer interested in informing the reader and retaining interest, will use simple terminology.

"The problem with most environmental reporters is that they write most of their articles from a technical point of view meaning that all the aspects they report on which could have been more interesting with an aspect of human interest become dull. It is disappointing how some journalists would use the term biodegradable instead of simply saying it rots," the book elaborates.

Besides tips, the book also provides information on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which in 1997 delisted the elephants from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2 and other conventions to which SADC member states are party, either individually or collectively. This information is aimed at creating the journalist's awareness of all the conventions that his/her country has ratified.

It also has a chapter on the Rio Principles "which provide considerable scope for an enterprising journalist." Political, social and economic issues can be measured in terms of the principles, providing many opportunities for investigative journalism.

The book has a glossary of selected environmental terms, which one may want to use when writing articles. In addition, it also provides a list of the not so common Environmental Acronyms for easy reference. Besides this, the book provides a list of environmental organisations working in the SADC region. (SARDC)