Plate Article Flashcards
What did CJR report about peak oil in 2008? What is the problem with our reporting of the story?
It’s a complex story that has gained prominence in recent yrs (esp. as oil prices spiked) but still begs clear, nuanced explanation
Re: Theobald—Why is peak oil an underreported story?
It remains a tough sell in the newsroom – it’s not generally an events-based story and involves the gradual accumulation of data that provide no easy answers or news hooks. It doesn’t make for great art either – aka photo of unhappy ppl is better than an analysis of global oil production affecting gas prices
Re: Maass—What are the challenges to reporting on oil? What solution does he see?
Oil is not a country you can visit or a person you can follow around – oil has no voice of its own. It’s a tremendous amount of work to investigate with little financial incentives and the media no longer has the resources
Solution: citizen journalists picking up the slack → people iwthin the (energy) industry finding the writer in themselves to explain to the world
Re: Margonelli—Most of the media write to what level? Media rely too much on what? What does she claim about rewards as an energy reporter? What is “Jules Verne-ism”?
- Most of the media write for 6th grade level – “hyper-simplification”
- Media rely too much on reporting what “authorities” say without working to dig out multiple perspectives on issues like peak oil
- There are no rewards for going rogue as an energy reporter – consequences range from not being able to get that next interview to editors refusing to run controversial stories
- “Jules Verne-ism” is running stories about cool new advances in renewable energy over ones about how difficult it will be to wean ourselves off oil and coal
Re: Heinberg—High oil prices do what, as far as educating the public is concerned?
They create a window of opportunity, a teachable moment
He adds that orgs need to invest in robust websites that address major objections set forth by peak-oil skeptics
