The Environment, Media, and the Internet

The public has a right to know...

The Power of the Media

• Mobilizes concern

• Responsible for public knowledge

• Raise and lower profile of issue

• Determines which voices are heard

• Lines of communication important

• Limited by time, resources, and space

The Negative Side

• Profit oriented and ratings-driven• Funding from advertisers • Issues are complex and difficult to deal with• Journalists can be manipulated by

government, business, labour, and environmental groups

• Choices that reporters make have implications

Media Critics

• David Suzuki - Earth Summit in Rio– “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”

ignored by press

• BC forests and the Globe and Mail

• Earth Day Every Day Radio Station Project– The media has a responsibility to adequately

inform the public

The Internet as an Information Source

• Environmental News Network

• Vast amounts of information

• Editors? Need Critical Public

• Global Society

• Different audiences reached