Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 1 Media, Politics and the Environment 1: News Media, Politics and the Environment Week

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong

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Media, Politics and the Environment 1: News

Media, Politics and the Environment

Week 7

March 20, 2013


Environmental journalism Exploring risks and hazards Translating complex scientific issues into simple language and

STORIES Using varied sources: scientists, policy makers, NGOs, business,

consumers, involved (e.g., local) people, the general public Major issue areas for environmental journalism today: Climate change Sweet water shortage Environmental justice Population Biodiversity

(Source: Bob Wyss: Covering the Environment. How Journalists Work the Green Beat. Routledge, 2008.)

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Environmental journalism: history From 1960s: a few news organizations 1400 environmental journalists in the US today 7500 journalists in the world say they cover the

environment (IFEJ) Many are part time environmental journalists at

smaller scale media (also cover other issues) Origins: outdoor adventure and nature writing Environmental journalism in the mainstream: a)

separate “environmental stories” b) as part or aspect of any story

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News journalism: 13 story genres

1. Straight news account: No dominant narrative frame other than outlining the basic who, what, when where, why and how

2. Conflict Story: A focus on conflict inherent to the situation or brewing among the players

3. Consensus Story: An emphasis on the points of agreement around an issue or event

4. Conjecture Story: A focus around speculation of what is to come

5. Process Story: An explanation of the process of something or how something works

List continued....

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6. Historical Outlook: How the current news fits into history

7. Horse Race: Who is winning and who is losing

8. Reality Check: A close look to verify a statement or information given by a source

9. Trend Story: The news as an ongoing trend

10. Policy Explored: A focus on exploring policy and its impact 12%

11. Reaction Story: A response or reaction from one of the major players

12. Wrongdoing Exposed: The uncovering of wrongdoing or injustice

13. Personality Profile: A profile of the newsmaker

Source: FRAMING THE NEWS. The Triggers, Frames, and Messages in Newspaper Coverage. (Content analysis of first page stories in US newspapers). http://www.journalism.org/node/445

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Frequency of genres Combative genres: Three genres -- conflict,

winners and losers and revealing wrongdoing -- accounted for 30% of all stories.

Straight news accounts: 16%-- Explanatory stories (how things work, how

they fit into larger trends, or historical context) 12% of all stories.

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Environmental journalism Objective journalism

vs. Advocacy journalism

Which one is more appropriate for environmental journalism in your view?

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Objective journalism: The search for truth

“Everyone agrees that journalists must tell the truth, but people are befuddled by that the truth means.” Kovach and Rosenstiel: Elements of Journalism

Truth: differences in science, religion and journalism


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Journalistic truth

Largely based on reporting what someone has said: it is taken on belief that it is true, but should be verified.

Sometimes based on what the reporter has seen and experienced first hand.


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Based on experimentand observations,which are tested repeatedly. Can and should be verified.

Belief andfaith. Usually cannotbe verified.

Based on whatsomeone hassaid or seen. Sometimes cannot be verified.

Scientific truth

Journalistictruth

Religioustruth

Three kinds of truth:

What is Truth?


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Towards the journalistic method:

“I made it a principle not to write down the first story that came down my way, and not even to be guided by my own general impressions; either I was present myselfat the events which I have described, or else I heard of themfrom eyewitnesses whose reports I have checked with asmuch thoroughness as possible. Not that even so the truthwas easy to discover: different eyewitnesses gave differentaccounts of the same events, speaking out of partiality for one side or the other, or else from imperfect memories.”

The Greek historian Thucydides (5 BC) describing his method


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1. Accuracy: getting facts right

A basic principle of journalism, but the one that is missed the most often due to time pressures, carelessness or ignorance.

Accuracy involves checking everything from the spelling of names and facts, to getting quotes accurately.


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2. Verification of facts

Are the statements and facts reported, both accurate and true?

“In the end, the discipline of verification is what separates journalism from entertainment, propaganda, fiction or art.” Kovach and Rosenstiel


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Arriving at a reasonably reliable version of the truth takes time

Arriving at a reasonably accurate account of any event is a process that could take several days, weeks or longer

-Initially, journalists get the facts down accurately as stated by people

-Next, they verify these facts, if not the same day, the next day

-If there are inconsistencies, journalists should keep checking and verifying and looking for new facts until they feel you a have a complete story


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The importance of good editors

Editors play an extremely important role in erifying and checking the integrity of a story: a reporter cannot do this alone.

Editors should go through stories line by line checking facts as well as assertions. E.g., if a story reads “according to sources” editors should check. Who are the sources? How many are there? Is it just one? Are there enough sources?

Editors can help remove the reporters unconscious biases


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The importance of method

Journalism needs to develop a set of objective, transparent techniques and methods for news reporting.

Reporters should make clear where information comes from.

After a story is published, editors should consider checking with the subjects of the story what they think about it.

This will also help reassure the public about the credibility of the press.


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Journalistic dishonesty

The most common form of intellectual dishonesty : "journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use a neutral voice to make it seem objective are engaged in a form of deception.” ~ “The Elements of Journalism”


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The meaning of objectivity in journalism

The word objectivity is misused to indicate neutrality, or balance. In practice, this is not fully possible.

What journalists need to do, is use methods of information gathering and reporting that are objective and transparent (easily understandable by the public).

Objectivity as a method: a procedural approach.


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Criticisms of objectivity

1. ‘Sources rulez’: journalists rely on the prominent and elite as their translators or mediators.

2. Objectivity against independent thinking, creativity, imagination, critical perspectives; just a technique by journalists=disinterested spectators.

3. Objective journalists claim they just report and are not responsible for creating news. Objective journalists are amoral.


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Alternatives to objectivity Advocacy journalism (advocating issues, topics,

frames, agenda, purpose, argument) Investigative journalism (independent research,

in-deep, long projects to uncover hidden facts; often involves conflict with economic or political power holders)

Interpretive journalism (causal analysis, explaining meaning)

Partisan journalism (serving a political party or group)

Public journalism (“news bottom up”: focus on local community members and involving them


Alternatives to objectivity cont-d

Literary journalism (mixing journalism with literature as an art form) Peter Hessler

Gonzo journalism (subjective journalism, “first person”, “putting me, the journalist first”: Hunter Thompson)

Development journalism (post-1960s, moving out of post-colonial struggle to support modernization in third world countries, mobilize public, public service, etc)

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Advocacy journalism Is objectivity possible? Not really Business and politics (power) will always

influences sources of journalism Partisan media made an advance recently (e.g.,

Fox Television) Why not serve the weak, help the powerless and

advocate their cause? Health journalism (e.g, “hospice” services) Environmental journalism (e., village impacted

by river pollution) Investigative journalism (e.g., labor conditions)


Advocacy journalism (cont.) Traditionally in opinion journalism (editorials, “Op-eds”) vs.

objective news More recently, in specialized newspapers and websites, but also

mainstream media Not partisan journalism or propaganda Truthful, accurate, credible Neutral sources – hard factsInstruments of advocacy journalism: Selection of topic (pollution) Selection of frames (ethical: wrongdoing; sustainability; green

politics) Selection of sources (polluting business company vs. victims and

green NGOs) Opponents may receive less space in article/program


Advocacy journalism (cont.)Mode of presentation: Opinionated, advocating an issues or position Language (adjectives) Facial expression (on tv) Tone of voice (on tv and radio) Where to put your article in the website/newspaper or

tv/radio program tv/radio broadcast flow?These are all instruments of advocacy journalism.

Objective journalism vs advocacy journalism: which one is more appropriate for environmental journalism in your view?

Documents

Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong 1 Media, Politics and the Environment 1: News Media, Politics and the Environment Week