This post is due by Monday, February 10 @ midnight for full credit.
Email late posts to rob.williamsATmadriver.com for partial credit.
Read our COVERING THE ENVIRONMENT book, assigned chapter(s) above.
In a SINGLE blog post below for ALL chapters in the section, provide for EACH chapter:
1. A single sentence, IYOW, that captures the THESIS (main argument) for each chapter.
2. THREE specific pieces of supporting documentation - ideas, concepts, stats, data - to bolster your thesis for each chapter. (Use 2 - 3 sentences for each.)
3. A SINGLE specific question you have after reading and blogging on ALL chapters of assignment.
The heat is on,
Dr. W
The heat is on,
Dr. W
Chapter 7:
ReplyDelete1) Environmental groups have become numerous in size and relevance, some groups are more credible than others, however many reporters have said that these environmental groups are now more invested in keeping their financial goals intact.
2) Tom Knudson of the Sacramento Bee wrote a series in 2001 reporting that the nation’s largest environmental groups have lost touch with their original grassroots due to an increase in size and connections to large corporations and costs, called “Environment, Inc.”.
E. Bruce Harrison wrote a book called “Going Green: How to Communicate your Company’s Environmental Commitment” saying that 1960 environmental activism was dead because the large environmental organizations were intent on maintaining their budgets and bureaucracies and were open to being co-opted by businesses.
In 1999, the 990s from the IRS provided the average top salary of the ten largest environmental organizations as $235,918; Habitat for Humanity International had $62,843 as a top salary and the president of Mother Against Drunk Driving received $69,570.
3) How do journalists find the smaller environmental groups that have just started to form?
Chapter 8:
1) When reporting on an environmental issue, journalists have many tools to help them find information, such tools include laws and databases such as; the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, Toxic Release inventory, and computer-assisted reporting.
2) Michael Mansur of the Kansas City Star has said, “You will never set yourself apart as an enterprising reporter, an ‘investigative reporter’, if you don’t independently seek documents and data”, (page 124).
Philip Meyer was the first journalist to popularize computer-assisted reporting when he published the book Precision Journalism that urged reporters to adopt and understand basic research methodology.
Scott Streater of the Pensacola News Journal used the Toxic Release Inventory managed by the EPA and discovered that the amount of chemicals local industries were releasing was huge and after further analysis found that his county was among the 25 highest in the nation in releases into the environment.
3) Is data more important in telling a story than quotes from an eyewitness or expert? Or is there a healthy balance?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. Politics are more involved in environmental problems than one might think.
2. Large environmental activist groups who are counted as 501(c) in tax exemptions are required to make their 909 forms available to the public. Some of these groups have been known to mislabel certain expenses as something the public would be more willing to donate to in order to gain as much profit as possible.
Some stunts that some environmental activists pull end up wreaking havoc and causing public upset. For example, the group Earth First! had actor and member Woody Harrelson climb the Golden Gate Bridge which caused a huge traffic jam. This type of behavior tends to give large environmental activist groups a bad name for public seeking endeavors.
Lots of large environmental activist groups originated from small grassroots organizations. These groups gained popularity, attention, and then donations and then became large economic organizations.
3. What advantages does a small grassroots organization have over a large organization?
Chapter 8
1. It can take some digging to get the necessary information in order to write a convincing story.
2. The Freedom Of Information Act made it a law that all documents and records would be accessible to the public. In order to access information that is not easily accessible, sometimes it is necessary to fill out a request form. Unless it is a document that is an exception to the FOIA, the source must make it available to the requester.
It is sometimes possible to find information in other places without filing a records request form. The internet is a valuable resource with tons of accessible information.
In order to simplify your job as a reporter, it is helpful to figure out everything that is necessary for your research before you go looking. This means narrowing down what exactly you need to find in order to make your search as quick and easy as possible.
3. What happens if someone denies your records request and it is a document that is eligible for public access?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. Understanding politics in journalism is just as important as understanding the science and regulators of environmental issues, as well as reporting fairly and without judgment when figuring out motives for certain projects.
2. For instance, in the case with the Nature Conservancy, the "Big Green" series done showed readers that the non-profit was "tied to large corporations and questionable development projects that surprised readers" (108). After the series came out that was reported fairly, the defense actually agreed that changes needed to be made.
The Audubon and Sierra Club started as small grassroots organizations but have since evolved into major political players making improvements in environmental legislation, litigation, and land preservation.
A lot of times corporations create organizations with misleading names that hide real sponsors. For instance, Greening Earth Society is sponsored and created by the Western Fuels Association, and stated that global warming is a myth and the scientific evidence of climate change was not agreed upon across the board.
3. How do you know where your donated money goes when donating to environmental organizations? Is it to salaries, campaign organizations, etc.?
Chapter 8
1. Journalists have access to many fact-finding tools and it is important to know the tools you have access to when reporting in order to get the right information for your story.
2. One of the most important tools are the laws that allow you access to government information, which in turn helps confirming data one could obtain elsewhere.
Although there are laws giving you rights to information, there are many obstacles associated with obtaining certain information. When 50 US mayors wrote to the Department of Homeland Security asking for more information about the hazardous materials shipped through their communities, they were continually denied for over 4 years.
When looking over data and analyzing it, it is important to be familiar with computers, spreadsheets, and certain data software that is used to make comparisons and analyzations.
3. How do you know when to dig deeper, as opposed to accepting the information you find from a credible source?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1.When reporting on advocates, journalists must understand their motives, tactics and spin, and use all available tools to report fairly.
2.Journalists must understand that the nation’s largest environmental organizations have grown distant from their grassroots origins. Many now have teams of scientific, technical, legal, and public relations experts, and better-known groups blend political lobbying with public relations campaigns.
As environmental activism rose in the mid-twentieth century and businesses were forced to spend more time and money on environmental regulation and compliance an adversarial relationship developed. Public relations consultants call such environmental campaigns “green p.r.” while critics use the phrase “greenwashing.” Journalists must be able to see through these campaigns.
To gain valid and thorough information, examine the literature the organization itself produces, both written and online, including its mission, board members and staff, membership, press statements and studies, annual reports and sources of financing. Talk to members about what they are doing, but also question the critics on the other side.
3.Just as the funders of studies for environmental groups spin the study, how does the publication a journalist is writing for impact the approach they take on the story?
Chapter 8
1.Journalists use many powerful tools to report on the green beat including federal and state laws allowing them to access government information and the ability to use computerized government data to find trends and results. However, the journalist must not forget about the human component of the story.
2.The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law requiring records of federal agencies to be public record. Although designed to open up access, it can be denied if it jeopardizes personal privacy, a law enforcement investigation, national security, as well as other obstacles that journalists must get around.
The Internet is now a significant source for gathering information. Yet to make this information useful, one needs to be familiar with computers, spreadsheets and data software used to manipulate the data and to make comparisons.
Computer-assisted reporting is an important part of working the green beat, but they must be prepared to interpret data and make it available to the reader, deal with the frustrations of dealing with many databases, and must be able to use the data in new and unorthodox ways.
3.Do journalists that have prior knowledge using computers and using data crunching programs help the public understand environmental issues better than those journalists without that background?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. Many environmental organizations methods change and are influenced by political or bureaucratic motives; journalists must detect when organizations operate by these standard.
2. A. Reporter, Tom Knudson, of the Sacramento Bee stated in his series "Environment Inc." that many of the nations largest environmental organizations had forgotten their grassroots origins and now worked from "high rise offices" with "ritzy conferences and rising executive salaries".
B. E. Bruce Harrison said in his book, "Going Green", that the environmental activism of the 60's was gone and environmental organizations are to focused on their "budgets and bureaucracies", so much so that they could be co-opted by businesses.
C. During the 1990's, The Environmental Defense Fund partnered up with McDonald's. The reason was to limit the amount of waste the fast food industry produced, and after several months, officials declared that waste had been cut down significantly and that recycling efforts were now taking place. Though the outcome sounded pleasant, critics still held the belief that the partnership was really designed so that McDonalds could sell more hamburgers.
3. Do grassroot environmental organizations usually achieve greater results than large environmental corporations?
Chapter 8
1. Journalists often search high and low for the accurate information they desire; some of these methods of search include databases and public files.
2. A. In 1987, Eilleen Welsome, a reporter for the Albuquerque Tribune, picked up a story on a toxic waste dump, which she later found contained human remains. After taking a hiatus until 1991, Welsome gathered small bits of information via a FOIA request that led her to the answers she was looking for regarding the names of the individuals who's remains were in the waste area. Her findings won her a Pulitzer Prize.
B. Robert McClure and Andrew Schneider of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer witnessed the clear information old records and public files may bring when they investigated a 1872 federal mining law. Reading the notes revealed details on companies during that time and their mines.
C. "One of the richest, deepest environmental databases is the Toxic Release Inventory, which is managed by the EPA"..."The TRI was designed to be a comprehensive source for telling the public how man-made chemicals were being released into the air, water and land". This is but one database provided to the public that journalists can take advantage of to gain further information.
3. Are each of these databases mentioned in the book kept up to date with new reports?
Chapter 7:
ReplyDelete(1) Oftentimes, advocates for the environment use journalists for public relations campaigns and even breach the political line rather than sticking to their original mission.
(2) Journalists often get upset with advocacy groups because they find themselves being used. As a summary of organizations deemed as credible or not credible environmental groups was being published, one journalist came forward complaining that the less credible groups had a "'tendency to characterize journalists as biased because the journalist doesn't completely embrace their viewpoint (which really isn't our job)'" (Wyss, 113). The parenthetical disclaimer is important: advocacy groups ought to work with the press rather than use the press.
Simply because an advocacy group may be labeled as a non-profit organization, understanding their motivation will help journalists "detect the spin" that advocates tend to do with "the message in a way that is beneficial to a particular cause or purpose" (Wyss, 117). In 2006, 14,651 groups labeled themselves as non-profit environmental groups (Wyss, 109). Most of them have strayed from their grassroots origins and become somewhat politically active.
One important realization for journalists is to "understand that politics plays just as important a role in environmental issues as do science or government" (Wyss, 108). Many groups are not credible due to staged activism or suspicious membership such as from oil companies, etc. "The better-known groups blend political lobbying with public relations campaigns" (Wyss, 110) which seems to be the most successful tactic.
(3) What are ways to identify that we, as the press, are being used by a particular group or organization?
Chapter 8:
(1) The tools journalists use allow them to stay up-to-date, well-informed, and prepared to present information to the public that may not be readily available.
(2) The two most important tools journalists use are "the federal and state laws allowing them access to government information and...the ability to analyze government data usually in computer form to find trends and results" (Wyss, 123). Most commonly the first tool comes in the form of a FOIA request, while the second often appears computer-assisted reporting.
There is a multitude of information available out there; though some may not seem readily available, it is the job of a good journalist to dig deeper than the surface. Even minimal amounts of information can be pieced together to help a story, just as Welsome's story on human radiation experiments.
The idea of computer-assisted reporting is definitely applicable today. One reporter believed that the Geographic Information Systems program "'is the most useful computer-assisted reporting tool journalists can use...environmental data is by far the most common data available in maps'" (Wyss, 135). Though this is just one example of the research tools journalist use, it is important to consider stories straight from people as well.
(3) Though this book was only written six years ago, the media changes daily. What kind of adjustments could be made to this chapter to bring it up to speed with 2014?
Chapter 7:
ReplyDelete1. Many different organizations, (whether concerning politics, environment or business) play a role in both advocating for the protection and regulation of the environment as well as advocating for economic growth.
2. The first example is that of the numerous environmental groups mentioned within the pages of this chapter. From Earth First! and Greenpeace to the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy, all are working in different ways to advocate for environmental causes. But as pointed out on page 110, environmental organization are not immune to political or corporate concerns, as they often lose sight of their grassroots in order to compete with corporate critics. The second example is the statistc brought forward by authors John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton of Toxic Sludge is Good for You. They state that “U.S. businesses were spending $1 Billion a year on the services of professionals hired to fight environmental organizations,” (110). This in mind, its easy to see where their efforts lie: in the attempt to advocate for economic growth of their company, rather than focus on environmental concerns. Third example is that of Lois Gibbs, a member of the Love Canal neighborhood in New York. She helped to create a campaign in order to draw attention to the chemical dumping in her community. Though she was not the typical whistle-blower, nor was it technically her responsibility to help regulate industry’s impact on the environment, she did so with epic results.
3. It always seems as if industry controls portions of politics in order avoid environmental policies, (thinking of loopholes discussed in Gasland).. Is there anyway to divorce industry and big money from environmental policies that would effect their particular business?
Chapter 8:
1. There are many methods, tools and resources that journalists use in order to create a comprehensive story, especially when writing for the green beat.
2. The first example of a way to get information concerning a particular environmental story is using FOIA, or the Freedom of Information Act. This states that all meetings and records of government activities are public. It allows for direct access to certain records that can provide crucial information when creating an in-depth environmental story. Another example of a source for information is the wondrous machine known as a computer. Using spreadsheets, online databases and data software can assist in scientific comparisons and understanding the implications of each number. Whether using the Toxic Release Inventory to monitor chemical releases into the environment or databases compiled by state agencies, this type of resource can provide information in the its purest form of raw data, which allows for inferences to be drawn from the origin. A third example is federal and state databases. Granted, a journalist can use the FOIA in order to access these databases, but they are also independent from the federal act. They may be a little harder to get ahold of, but they definitely provide accurate information on whichever topic desired.
3. Do most reporters take advantage of the FOIA in order to obtain information?
Chapter 7:
ReplyDelete1. It is important for journalists to understand that politics play an important role in environmental policies.
2. a. Environmental advocacy groups exist on the national and international level, but there are also many grassroots organizations as well. Groups such as Audubon and the Sierra Club were once grassroots movements but became more corporate in nature and structure. There have been criticisms of such changes in that these groups were becoming characterized by “high rise offices, ritzy conferences, rising executive salaries” etc. (pg. 109)
b. The Nature Conservancy is an Environmental advocacy group worth 3 billion dollars that once took individual donations but now has corporate sponsors. In the past the Conservancy has sold some of its own land to a regional chapter leader and “inadvertently sold natural gas” that was owned by someone else when they bought a tract of land to protect a population of endangered birds. (pg. 106)
c. Other groups that are more well-known also incorporate lobbying and public relations. The Natural Resources Defense Council was known for using public relation campaigns to “impose pesticide controls on apple productions.” (pg. 110)
3. is there a concern that if some organizations that promote environmental issues have corporate sponsors, their motives might be compromised?
Chapter 8
1. Journalists have a multitude of tools and resources that allow them to find an abundance of information and engage in effective reporting.
2. a. The Freedom of Information Act allows public access to government documents and records. Government Agencies have "mounds of information" that can be accessed by the public. With the exception of some agencies, which must accept a FOIA form.
b. There are also recommendations that journalists should look for other ways to find information in another way than FOIA. The Internet is home to vast amounts of information and "it is surprising how much information officials and other interested parties acquire." (Page 125)
c. With the Internet, less and less paper documents are being used. The EPA for example is more in favor of documents in electronic form. The EPA and other agencies now provide "databases about water, air, and waste pollution sources online the general public." (Page 129)
3. What was the best method for journalists to acquire information before the FOIA was established?
1) There are a variety of groups that play a role as advocates for the environment. It’s important for journalists to know the different organizations that exist.
ReplyDelete2) Some advocate organizations have specific purposes, while other organizations have a much broader mission. One problem with environmental organizations today is that they there large size can divert attention away from the main priority. The organizations have become characterized by high-rise offices, fancy conferences, and rising executive salaries. These organizations definitely need to be strong in order to be successful, and lobby congress, however they are developing a lot of similarities with the corporate world. Journalist should also be aware that sometimes people working as advocates sometimes “can’t see both sides of some issues.” Scientists have also criticized environmental groups by saying that they sometimes turn facts into fantasy. The book mentions the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund as more reliable advocates and Earthfirst! and Green Peace as less reliable sources. The less reliable sources tend to exaggerate in order to get attention, and sometimes acted without data. Journalists also need to be careful to see that an environmental group wasn’t funded by a corporation that is looking to turn public opinion in their favor. For example, the National Wetlands Coalition was funded by an oil company.
3) How do you avoid “Environment Inc.” and still have any real power?
1) There are various reporting tools that a journalist has access to, and if they know how to use these tools, then they will be very beneficial to there reporting.
2) The book highlights two very important tools that a journalist can use when reporting. The first being the federal and state laws allowing them access to government information, and the second being the ability to analyze government data in computer form to find trends and results. The Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA gives people access to government records. Sometimes journalists will need to get “creative” in order to get to the information. The records available will tell you “who’s polluting the air and waterways.” However, the FOIA is famous for obstacles. With Computer assisted reporting, journalists can have actual numbers, which gives them a sense of trust. The EPA, for example, provides a database about water, air and waste pollution.
CH 7
ReplyDeleteWhile it may be assumed environmental non profit groups or organizations are entirely supportive of their publicized initiatives, it is important to understand where their donations come from and which corporations and/or companies are influencing their actions.
The opening story of the Nature Conservancy is a perfect place to start. With 1,900 corporate sponsors and $225 million dollars in donations during the year that the Washington Post chose to do an investigative piece on them, its no wonder how they got themselves into situations such as the gas drilling on Texas and controversial land sale in New York. When a corporation donates millions of dollars to an organization that owns excessive amounts of land, they are obviously going to want access to some of that land in return. While these “big boys” as referred to by the book are an example of corporations getting their feet wet in the environmental movement and protecting their interests with money, there are still advocates who rely solely on action rather than money to protect their interests. Lois Gibbs is a great example of someone from the grassroots level of activism. These groups advocate with virtually no money and aim to protect in her situation, human health. Lois along with her neighbors gave rise to the Love Canal incident and their grassroots movement became world famous and they exposed the dangers of living in their highly polluted neighborhood of Love Canal, NY. Situations such as this were happening all over the U.S. and thanks to Lois Gibbs, many more grassroots organizations sprung up across the country and with no more than their voices and community support were able to create situations of environmental justice.
CH 8
In reporting the green beat, journalists have a great deal of tools and methods which allow them to report accurately and most effectively as their field of work can tend to be highly criticized.
As technology is continually advancing, so is the amount of information that becomes easily accessible to journalists. FOIA has created a network of accessibility to information that can be a journalists best friend. Created to promote the access of government to the public, FOIA was a landmark in publicly shared information. Now, journalists may prefer to simply use the internet for obtaining information, while keeping in mind the credibility of their source. Computer assisted reporting has become poplar as well, but often times the data in which a journalist can access is very difficult to relay directly in their piece and must be reanalyzed and/or re interpreted. The best form of a CAR as stated by Matt Waite and from personal experience is GIS. When it comes to environmental reporting especially, everything is being mapped, and there is no easier way to gain an understanding for how an area is being environmentally de gradated than by observing maps of the specified area. Not only does it state that maps can be easily read and understood by the readers, but it is also creates a tangible look at an issue rather than just discussing an issue with words.
Q: Is there a proper time to reveal the inner workings of a large environmental advocacy group such as the N.C., or should it be left to individuals who donate to these groups to research and use the media tools available to see exactly what they are making donations to?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. Organizations that advocate for the environment are greatly varied in size and nature, and it is always important for journalists to assess their motives, both direct and ulterior.
2. As always, the opening anecdote does an excellent job of introducing the theme of the chapter. I was unaware of the beginnings of the Nature Conservancy, and certainly unaware of some of its questionable dealings and practices. This goes to show how a name that implies greenness can so easily skew public opinion. It is up to journalists to not be taken in by this immediately. The next interesting set of stats that immediately follows the opening is extremely informative, and portrays just how varied even the largest groups can be. I found it incredible at first that the “big ten” out of 14,651 environmental organizations contribute roughly 25% of the total expenditures. But then thinking how we talked about how much of the media is controlled by only a handful of mega corporations it seemed a bit less shocking. The third tidbit in the chapter that I found equally interesting was the estimated statistic of $1 billion being spent annually by industries to fight against environmental organizations. All these billion dollar figures being thrown around are sufficiently mind numbing. But then taking into account the most recent estimate of the USA’s GDP at 15.7 trillion dollars, it is put into a more useable perspective. Journalists will need to take all these types of statistics into account when dealing with advocates to accurately report a story.
3. Would corporations even offer to sponsor environmental groups if they were not expecting some leniency policy control in return? (Philosophical question I suppose).
Chapter 8
1. Journalists have numerous tools that can aid them in gathering the information they may need for a story; the two that are most discussed in the chapter are the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Computer-assisted Reporting (CAR).
2. “The Federal government and virtually every state have sunshine laws designed to allow public access to government meetings and records”. The part that applies to the federal govt. is what makes up the FOIA. This can be an invaluable tool for journalists who need to use government data reserves for a story. The opening anecdote about Ron Nixon reporting on logging practices in Virginia is a perfect example.
“One of the richest, deepest environmental databases is the Toxic Release Inventory, which is managed by the EPA”. This is an example of a computer-assisted reporting tool that can easily provide an environmental journalist with credible information in a streamlined way. However, as we saw in Gasland, even the EPA must be have their motives questioned as the last chapter explained.
The third piece of evidence to support the theme of this chapter is the numerous case studies which are provided for both the FOIA and CAR. The stories show how journalists in the past have utilized these reporting tools to expose and elaborate on environmental crises
3. How relevant is the FOIA still in today’s world where nearly everything can be found on the internet?
Ch 7
ReplyDelete1. Environmental advocacy groups come in different shapes and sizes, and it is important for journalists to not make assumptions about them.
2. What stood out to me in this chapter was the number of organizations identifying themselves as non-profit or 501c tax exempt. Many of these groups are referred to as the "big boys". The story about "Big Boy" group Earth First!'s 'green anarchy' tactics with spiking trees in old growth forests in California challenged my attempts to not make assumptions about the group. From the group's tax-free, high income perspective, creating hazardous work conditions for lumber employees trying to earn their living off each taxed paycheck to the next probably never crossed their minds. However, that is the assumption that the chapter forewarns me not to make. It is also important to remember that almost all "big boy" organizations at one point were grassroots organizations.
3. Would environmental advocacy organizations' messages benefit more from integrating their organization with education systems, or leaving them in their current privatized state?
Ch 8
1. FOIA and CAR are powerful tools for open information gathering and by utilizing them, journalists are making themselves more powerful.
2. Eileen Welsome's 1987 Pulitzer-winning story on a radioactive waste dump is one excellent example of how open information was utilized much before Web 2.0 and even before Web 1.0. As the chapter states explicitly "construct a powerful story with minimal documents".
Once data is gathered, another obstacle in storytelling is interpreting data so that it makes sense to the reader. Ron Nixon said, "that too often reporters get carried away in thinking the story is only about the data." Doing the reporting to maintain the human element is just as great a priority.
When using a tool like the Toxic Release Inventory, managed by the EPA, it is more important for a journalist to not get carried away with the data and keep a keen eye for places where even the EPA's motives lie.
3. How are reporting tools changing in Web 2.0 and how can journalists balance becoming distracted on the internet with utilizing social media as a reporting tool?
CHAPTER SEVEN
ReplyDelete1.How advocates are often swayed by their political or corporate ties and the impacts this has on covering environmental issues.
2. In covering the green beat often advocates need to use hype to sway the public to understanding important environmental problems. But often this hype leads to inaccuracy in information. A big scare in how accurate information was came with “the Apple scare”. Another important part of advocacy is being theatrical. Often times it is really theatrical groups like Greenpeace or Earth First! these theatrics often distract from the bigger issue because people are so focused on the NGO. Another important issue in advocacy related to political ties is that a lot of these so-called environmental advocacy groups may be doing harm to the environment in their efforts. Nature Conservancy was found to have been logging forests, spending money on projects that had potential harm to grasslands and more.
3. How can we give more weight in journalism to grassroots organizations than to corporate environmental groups that may now have a monopoly on the system?
CHAPTER EIGHT
1. Understanding the tools that journalists use to stay up to date on information when reporting a story, including the various roadblocks to information one might encounter.
2. The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was established in order to have information readily accessible and people there known as information officers to help in the process. This allowed journalists to access information more quickly than they could previously. But today, journalists use the internet more than the database through the federal government because it is more time efficient. The EPA has a number of databases that are readily accessible for journalists today. These include the Toxic Release Inventory on the EPA’s website. An important example of CAR was given by Matt White who used maps to understand the importance of location in environmental journalism as well as it being a useful tool in reporting.
3. How are the tools of reporting changing with the access to information through Web 2.0?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1) Large environmental organizations often lose sight of their cause by corporation sponsorship and loss of touch with what it is like to live in the communities affected.
2) 1. The least credible environmental organizations were categorized as such because of their dramatic tactics to achieve change. Earth First! and Greenpeace are two known for this and as a result have lost possible supporters who are turned off by over-the-top demonstrations.
2. There are many organizations with misleading names to seem like environmental organizations when really they support anti-environment causes. This cover-up is a PR tactic. i.e. The National Wetlands Coalition is actually opposed to U.S. wetlands policies.
3. Lois Gibbs, of the Love Canal campaign, went on to create the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, which focuses on grassroots campaigns that are direct and personal. To compare to efforts of larger environmental organizations, Gibbs said “They don’t know what it’s like to live in a community and have everything you’ve ever worked for -- your home -- become worthless overnight. It’s a different emotional sense that drives people like me.”
3) Grassroots campaigns are successful because of their “not-in-my-backyard” mentality. How can larger environmental groups rally the support of those who have in the past found their work too abstract? How can they become more relatable?
Chapter 8
1) Investigative journalists are deserving of their title only if they take the time to acquire documents and analyze them along with interviews, online resources, etc, to piece together the story.
2) 1. The Freedom of Information Act requires public access to federal records. When you submit a FOIA request the agency has 20 days to respond. This transparency allows journalists (and everyone else) to access public information in a (hopefully) timely manner.
2. There are many online databases (i.e. the Toxic Release Inventory) that are updated by regulatory agencies (i.e. the EPA) to be transparent in their studies. This allows anyone to examine the data collected and find patterns or missing pieces that should be further investigated through other channels.
3. Even with Internet research (computer-assisted reporting) and FOIA requests, reporters will still often have to use unconventional methods to obtain information they need. For example, in 1997 Susan Stranahan and Larry King of the Philadelphia Inquirer found a former reporter of their case who had copies of court records that they needed. She was able to answer their last remaining question in the investigation.
3) The Freedom of Information Act only covers federal agencies, not all organizations. If private companies and environmental agencies are not required to release requested information, how can journalists find the missing pieces in a story?
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. Politics and finance play a bigger role in environmental organizations than there cause does sometimes. It is important for an environmental journalist to understand this in order to judge what is actually news.
2. (a) Tom Knudson of the Sacramento Bee wrote "Environment, Inc." which explains that some of the nation's largest environmental organizations have grown far from their roots. This reference began the chapter on the notion that size can divert attention from priorities and many large environmental organizations struggle with this.
(b) One important piece of this chapter explains how big environmental organizations use marketing and advertising in the same ways big corporations do, which is unfortunate, because this kind of advertising is very misleading. Using hype, publicity stunts, or celebrities to gain attention works, but it may have more negative consequences that positive. We'd like to think environmental organizations run the most truthful campaigns possible.
(c) A big part of this chapter emphasizes the success small grass-roots organizations have had. This is because these organizations are often run by the "average joe" who has personally struggled with this issue they attack in their campaign. This creates more emotional connection with viewers. The human connection is most effective.
3. How can large environmental organizations stay focused and prioritized using social media platforms to accurately campaign their mission?
Chapter 8
1. It is a key part of journalism to access FOIA records and utilize CAR in order to gather vital information that make a story the most truthful and powerful it can be.
2. (a) Eileen Welsome of the Albuquerque Tribune was used an example of a journalist who uncovered a serious hidden story of radiation experiments on humans that the government was keeping secret. This is one example of how accessing public records can reveal the most serious of stuff.
(b) CAR has become a popular way for journalists to gather information and if used correctly can be just as helpful as a public record attained by FOIA. Attaining data and numbers makes a story feel more trustworthy and CAR is a vital tool in perusing these numbers.
(c) Being a journalist is very difficult. It does not only mean you must be able to write, but have knowledge in many areas as every chapter of this book has discussed. CAR is most beneficial when a journalist can actually make sense of the spread shits and all the compiled data. The key to using data is being able to link one set of data to another in order to form a story out of it. A good journalist will make this link.
3. With social media emerging as a mainstream news source, will journalists be courageous enough to reveal hidden government or scientific records more and more?
Excellent reflections here, posse.
ReplyDeleteLet's consider your questions in class - bravo!
Dr. Rob
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete1. The nations largest environmental organizations such as the Audubon society and the Humane Society, are driven further away from their original roots and closer to becoming political players, causing tension between journalists and the organizations.
2. Tom Knudsen of the Sacramento Bee wrote a series called “Environment Inc.” In this series he discusses that some of the nation’s largest environmental organizations have grown extremely far from what they had initially set out to do. He said that, “they were now characterized by high-rise offices, ritzy conferences, rising executive salaries, fat Wall Street portfolios and costly fundraising consultants” (Wyss, 109). Another quote comes from Jerry Franklin, a University of Washington professor to forest ecology and ecosystem systems stated, “A lot of environmental messages are simply not accurate. But that’s the way we sell messages in this society. We use hype. And we use those pieces of information that sustain our position. I guess all organizations do that.” (Wyss, 110). A great example of the uneasiness between journalists and the environmental organizations is explained in a quote from Scott Streater. Scott was working on a series for the Pensacola News-Journal about volume of toxic chemicals being released in Florida. For the sake of his story, he decided to exclude any quotes from environmental activists. He said, “There were to going to be advocates (in the story) making cheap shots at anyone” (Wyss,121).
3. Do the people donating money to these environmental organizations know all this information about their hidden motives?
Chapter 8
1. Reporters, by law, are allowed to investigate and obtain certain legal documents that help to enhance their stories.
2. Michael Mansur of the Kansas City Star “You will never set yourself apart as an enterprising reporter, an ‘investigative reporter,’ if you don’t independently seek documents and data” (Wyss, 124). An example of a federal act that allows journalists to obtain information is FOIA, passed in 1966. This was designed to give access to government documents unless it threatens personal privacy, a law-enforcement investigation or national security. An example of a journalists using FOIA to their advantage is the story of Eileen Welsome who was a reporter for the Albuquerque Tribune she was working on a story about a radioactive waste dump that also contained irradiated animal remains. She brought the story to her editor and he told her that she was a neighborhood reporter and shouldn’t report on this story. She continued on doing the story on the side, filed a FOIA request with the Energy Department. Welsome ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for her series.