Environment and the Media
Paige Kelley
Environmental Communications
Professor Skanavis
Environment and the Media In this world, the human population consists of 7 billion people who are varying in location to 7 separate continents, with 196 different countries among them. One thing that we all have in common is that we all share one single world. With a net population of growth this year, thus far, of 77 million people and counting (Real Time World Statistics), there is one common, underlying problem; the care of the environment. Some problems may seem insignificant to one country, while it is taking a huge toll on another. If everyone takes a step back and studies the big picture, they will realize that every single environmental issue will eventually have an impact on all 196 countries, whether they are feeling the pain now or not. However, not everyone can see the big picture, and this is because the media will only tell the public what they think will concern the listeners and tend to leave out what is happening across the globe. Ted Turner, a founder from CNN said it best, “We must go through a natural revolution if we are to survive on earth. We need to change people’s perceptions. If there is no environment, there’s no human race. We are in a state of global denial” (Project for Improved Environmental Coverage). The media’s motto can be summed up by a popular quote, “out of sight, out of mind”; however, this motto does not work when pertaining to global, environmental concerns. In order for the public to be aware of the environmental issues they are being faced with, the media has to put out stories and cover these issues. The Project for Improved Environmental Coverage (PIEC), a nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving environmental news coverage conducted a study to demonstrate the lack of coverage in the media on environmental issues. The PIEC is a program of SEE Innovation, an organization whose mission is to build awareness,
Environmental Communications
Professor Skanavis
Environment and the Media In this world, the human population consists of 7 billion people who are varying in location to 7 separate continents, with 196 different countries among them. One thing that we all have in common is that we all share one single world. With a net population of growth this year, thus far, of 77 million people and counting (Real Time World Statistics), there is one common, underlying problem; the care of the environment. Some problems may seem insignificant to one country, while it is taking a huge toll on another. If everyone takes a step back and studies the big picture, they will realize that every single environmental issue will eventually have an impact on all 196 countries, whether they are feeling the pain now or not. However, not everyone can see the big picture, and this is because the media will only tell the public what they think will concern the listeners and tend to leave out what is happening across the globe. Ted Turner, a founder from CNN said it best, “We must go through a natural revolution if we are to survive on earth. We need to change people’s perceptions. If there is no environment, there’s no human race. We are in a state of global denial” (Project for Improved Environmental Coverage). The media’s motto can be summed up by a popular quote, “out of sight, out of mind”; however, this motto does not work when pertaining to global, environmental concerns. In order for the public to be aware of the environmental issues they are being faced with, the media has to put out stories and cover these issues. The Project for Improved Environmental Coverage (PIEC), a nonprofit initiative dedicated to improving environmental news coverage conducted a study to demonstrate the lack of coverage in the media on environmental issues. The PIEC is a program of SEE Innovation, an organization whose mission is to build awareness,
Cited: “Climate Change: Basic Information.” EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency. 9 Sept, 2013. Web. “Environmental Coverage in the Mainstream News: We Need More.” Greening the Media “Greendex 2012: Consumer Choice and the Environment - A Worldwide Tracking Survey.” National Geographic. National Geographic and Globe Scan, 2012. Web. “A Historic Step in the Right Direction for Clean Air.” NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council “Real Time World Statistics.” Worldometers. 10 Dec. 2013. Web. Schwartz, Joel Severns, Maggie. “CHARTS: TV News Mentioned Donald Trump Nearly 20 Times More Than Fracking in 2011.” Mother Jones. 1 Feb. 2013. Web. “Water Pollution and Environmental Degradation.” UN Water