The Changing News Environment

• Published in: Environment : science and policy for sustainable development Vol. 52; no. 2; p. 5
• Main Author: Clark, George E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Kirkpatrick Jordon Foundation 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Cable TV; Cellular telephones; Christianity; Climate change; Cost reduction; Environmental education; Global warming; Greenhouse gases; International policy; Journalism; Journalists; Libraries; Public libraries; Reporters; Science; Social analysis; Spectrum allocation; Subscriptions; Sustainable development; Television news; Websites
• ISSN: 0013-9157; 1939-9154
• DOI: 10.1080/00139151003618092

7 In what Charles Petit in one of the articles cited below termed a layoff parade, newspapers have been getting rid of science and environment reporters, issuing pink slips and securing buyouts from, among others, Wade Rawlins of the Raleigh News & Observer,8 Kevin Mayhood of the Columbus Dispatch,9 and John Johnson Jr. of the Los Angeles Times.10 Andrew C. Revkin of the New York Times signed off on December 21, 2009 .11 Of course, science news is only part of the story, as sustainability news should be much broader, encompassing economics, social analysis, religion, international policy, real estate, metropolitan news, national policy, and so on.12 Environmental coverage is likely to suffer when any desk of the newspaper suffers cuts. [...] despite the proliferation of multiple, independent voices with the rise of blogging and other uses of the Web, much of the dialog on environmental issues remains polarized, with the conflict egged on by such voices as Rush Limbaugh's pronouncements on current events from beyond the raggedy fringes of civilized discourse.57 Fortunately, there are thoughtful conservative news commentators, such as Michael Gerson, who acknowledge the science of global warming,58 and liberals and conservatives alike should take note of and look for opportunities for dialog on that basis.