Covering The Planet:
Environmentalism In A Media World

Covering The Planet image
President George W. Bush's controversial policies may have put environmental news back onto Page One, but are the issues getting the media treatment they deserve? Do stories like the toxic air around New York's Ground Zero get enough attention? In struggles over massive projects like India's Narmada Dam, do all sides have an equal media voice? From local industry to international treaties, ecological issues directly affect our communities, food supply, health and the sustainability of our economic development. So why isn't the ecosystem a primary news beat like sports, politics and business?

Is it a journalist's job to "speak for the planet"? Is environmentalism an "agenda"? How do the media industries themselves affect the natural world?

MediaChannel affiliates have been looking hard at how the mass media cover — and affect — environmental change. And now new media are providing opportunities for information sharing and campaigning around environmental issues. We talk about the way our media environment is transforming. What does this mean for the physical world?

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Part One: Overview
Why environmental journalism must evolve
Part Two: Silencing The Critics
The politics of censorship and ownership
Part Three: Science In Journalism
Getting "facts" in context
Part Four: PR, Spin And Campaigns
The uses and abuses of media
Part Five: Environmental Projects Online
MediaChannel Affiliates use the green power of new media
— Murad Rayani and Aliza Dichter, editors.

Part One: Overview
Why environmental journalism must evolve

The Quiet Story Of Toxic Air
What are the health dangers of the World Trade Center site? "This is a really big story and the government reaction to it is ... either obfuscation or denial," said investigative environmental journalist Paul Brodeur. From The Poynter Institute, January 25, 2002

Reporting The Environment
A special report from the International Press Institute looks at the challenges and urgency of covering environmental news. Features include:
• Controversies help boost environment coverage but it's still a dangerous beat.
• Where's the science in environmental reporting?
• The ups and down of Korean environmental journalism
From International Press Institute, August 2001

Environmental News Makes A Comeback
From pulling out of the Kyoto treaty to oil drilling in the Arctic, George W. Bush's policies might not be good news for the environment, but they sure are good for environmental news. From Columbia Journalism Review, May 2001

Taking Ecology To The Mainstream
In this 1998 interview, investigative reporter Mark Dowie rails against environmental journalism in the age of the "airhead anchorclone" and why the term "alternative media" is a tactical error. From MediaChannel.org

U.S. Media Neglects The Climate
If Americans don't know much about global efforts to combat pollution-generated climate change it's probably because the media are ignoring them, finds this careful analysis of coverage of the 2000 international talks. From Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, March/April, 2001

Publishers Versus Trees
Using recycled paper can help magazine publishers cut down their massive impact on the planet. Or maybe not. From International Press Institute
Also see:
• Printing A Greener Magazine: A How-To Guide
• The Tree-Use Calculator For Magazine Publishers

Hollywood Versus The Land
In addition to exploiting local labor, Hollywood endangers the local environment when producing films in foreign lands — so claim lawsuits against "The Beach," shot in Thailand and "Survivor III," shot in Kenya. From Toward Freedom, December 2001

Part Two: Silencing The Critics
The Politics Of Censorship and Ownership

China — Playing Politics With Environment Journalists
With a national media agency that has helped solve thousands of pollution cases and local authorities only too eager to avoid negative publicity in Beijing, environmental journalists in China find themselves caught in the web of national politics. From TomPaine.com

Coverage Diluted By Corporate Concentration
The values of big media owners increasingly resemble those of corporate entities so that environmental stories tend to be reported as corporate contests, with bottom lines and profit margins taking precedence. From Thunderbird Journalism Review

Governments Sensitive To Secrets
When whistleblowers threaten to reveal embarrassing national secrets or report on sensitive economic plans, governments can and do silence their critics — including environmentalists. In Russia, Grigory Pasko continues to face military charges for his coverage of Russia's under-maintained nuclear powered naval vessels and waste disposal. From Index On Censorship
Also see: A U.S. Geographical Society employee claims he was fired over an Arctic National Wildlife Refuge map he posted on the Web.

A Shell Over The Truth
Some five years after the event, the execution of writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa remains one of clearest examples of the dangers in exposing government and corporate wrongdoing over the environment. From MediaChannel.org

Part Three: Science In Journalism
Getting "facts" in context

Skeptical? Or Not Skeptical Enough?
In "The Skeptical Environmentalist," Bjorn Lomborg denounced the warnings of Nobel and other scientists. The book quickly earned both major buzz and major hate. From spiked
• The Credulity Of The Press: Denouncing Lomborg
• A journalist defends the book
• "Debunking Pseudo-Scholarship"

Secrets Of Science
Press embargoes and the courting of journalists by premiere scientific journals might help protect publications' scoops, but these practices also endanger investigative science reporting, writes Emily Chung. From Thunderbird Journalism Review

Experts Or Flacks?
Be wary of the experts and scientists cited in news stories, say the authors of "Trust Us, We're Experts," as they are often on the corporate payroll — undisclosed. From Alternet

The "Reality Industry"
Journalists may be all to eager to focus on the negative angle when reporting science news, warns a new book that explores the relationship between science and journalism. From Statistical Assessment Service
Plus: The STATS research center challenges conventional environmental wisdom in story after story.

Part Four: PR, Spin And Campaigns
The uses and abuses of media

PR Unspun
Do corporations use their PR machines to manipulate news coverage and sanitize their reputation or simply to connect and communicate with the public? Our MediaChannel Issue Guide examines sophisticated techniques and grassroots tools for captivating public opinion. From MediaChannel

Grassroots PR In The Forest
Learning to produce 30-second sound bites and with a team of independent media makers in tow, Australia's tree huggers are embracing the media in their campaigns to protect their forests. From The Paper

Enemies Of The Press?
The recent news that a former head of Greenpeace, Lord Melchett, will join the firm Burson Marsteller (BM) has activists up in arms. The world's largest PR firm is frequently accused of helping government and corporate clients conceal their activities and obstruct journalists. From Centre for Science and Environment

By And For Farmers
Outdated science, chemical-company hype and a lack of humanity have dominated agricultural publications in India. But "Adike Pathrike," a magazine written by and for farmers, has revolutionized the field. From Centre for Alternative Agricultural Media

GE Drowns Voices Over Hudson Cleanup
Through a huge publicity campaign involving full-page ads and its national broadcaster NBC, General Electric waged a media blitz against a cleanup of the Hudson River. From The Nation

Can Films Save The Planet?
Camcorder vigilantes are providing evidence in cases of environment pollution and using the American media machine to draw attention to, educate and inspire communities in the fight against environment destruction. From MediaRights.org

Part Five: Environmental Projects Online
MediaChannel affiliates use the green power of new media

Green Press Pakistan
With members working in population studies and demography, economics, geography and meteorology, the Green Press aims to present to the mass media the complex issues associated with covering the environment. Green Press also operates the first Internet radio station providing talk shows on the environment.

Environmental News Network
ENN offers a range of interactive products and services for environmental activist and journalists. Includes:

  • Daily news and in-depth reports from staff reporters
  • Environment news wire from international sources
  • ENN live chat

IndyMedia On Climate Change
The Climate Independent Media Center provides practical, up dated information and reports by and for non-governmental organizations, grassroots activists and independent critical journalists covering climate changes. Through contributed stories, photos, video and audio files the site aims to strengthen the voices given little room in the mainstream media.

MELISSA: Managing the Environment Locally in Sub-Saharan Africa
With more than 1,000 network members in more than 45 countries, mainly sub-Saharan Africa, the MELISSA Program facilitates and supports the goal of improving the local environment through knowledge-sharing and management.

One World
OneWorld is a community of more than 1,000 organizations working for social justice and development. Arranged by country and region, the One World database consists of hundreds of reports, case studies and reviews of partner groups working to protect the environment.

World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan
Established in 1970, WWF - Pakistan (WWF-P) is the largest conservation nongovernmental organization (NGO) in the country, working to arrest the loss of natural habitats and decline in biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

  • Ecosystem Analysis
  • Species lists
  • Guides for teachers and environment journalists

Centre for Science and Environment
For over 20 years CSE has been developing "knowledge based activism" and producing citizens' reports on India's environment that combine research and a sharp analysis of corporate wrongdoing with advocacy and resource building.

  • Down To Earth-Science and Environment Fortnight
  • In Depth Reports on State of the Environment in India
  • Environment Monitoring programs

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AS THE MEDIA WATCH THE WORLD, WE WATCH THE MEDIA.

Resources from Our Affiliates

1 World Communication (News)
Globalization impacts on environment, poverty; the oil industry

All Africa
Daily African environment news by country and region

Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ)
National environmental journalists forum for 37 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Corporate Watch (UK)
Support for direct activism against large corporations, particularly multinationals

CorpWatch
Working to foster democratic control over corporations by building grassroots globalization

Earth Island Institute
Local reports and innovative action for the environment

Earth Policy Institute
Action alerts and links necessary for an environmentally sustainable economy

Environmental Media Services
Database of environmental terms and related reports (includes acid rain, pesticide product information)

Environment News Service (ENS)
Environment news message board, environment events calendar youth environment news desk

IRIN
Leading environment stories from Asia and Africa

Journalism Net
Links to environment news reports and organizations

Making India Green
Campaigns, news and resources to enable consumers to make more informed choices concerning the environment

Nile Basin Society
Increasing awareness of the Nile River water crisis and working to develop a widely shared vision of a desirable, sustainable water future between Nile riparian countries and help them in the way to get there.

People and the Planet
Global review and Internet gateway for population, poverty, health and the environment.

Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility
Protecting employees who protect the environment

Stichting Ecooperation
Sustainable development program between Netherlands, Bhutan, Costa Rico and Benin

The Earth Times
In Depth reports on global pollution and environment issues

Unesco Courier
Monthly magazine with reports and interviews concerning our Planet- from journalists around the globe.

Top 10 Most Under-Covered Environmental Stories

IPI asked members of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists and the U.S.-based Society of Environmental Journalists to nominate what they perceive as the most under-covered environmental stories. Here are the stories and issues nominated in alphabetic order.

1) Corporate bullies
Powerful developers and polluters who intimidate governments and citizens by threatening economic consequences.

2) Electronic radiation
The less visible but more prevalent effects of sonar, cell phones and other electronic devices.

3) Endocrine disruptors
Common household chemicals mixing and possibly contributing to birth defects, cancer and other diseases.

4) Environmental noise
An issue ignored due to a lack of knowledge and the view that its health impacts are not life threatening.

5) Factory and aquatic farms
Animal-feeding operations on land and in water causing fish kills, algae blooms and powerful neurotoxins in water.

6) Genetically modified crops
Monsanto's disease- and pest-resistant Golden Rice and its effects on farms in Third World countries.

7) Greenwashing
Companies that are self-reportedly leading lights in preserving the environment but have in fact done little.

8) Hazardous landfills
Abandoned hazardous waste landfills situated in ravines that are natural drainage courses to major rivers.

9) Logging
The taxpayer-subsidized U.S. national forest logging program that destroys watersheds and squelches biodiversity.

10) Nuclear radiation
The hazards of depleted uranium weapons and the aftermath of nuclear explosions.