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The responsibilities of the media Amanda Armstrong "Green and Practical" Kadio Na~ionalS cience Unit, GPO Box 999.1, Sydney, IqSW 2001 Thls papet rum rlehve,ed to n cur$erence entitled "Repo,hng tiie E?luiron~r~ent"or, pnzzerl bj' the Centre fa? Independent Jorrrnallsm and held m tire ~MtlclidlL ibra?y, S'dney, on 30 Septerttbe?, 1992 The responsibilities of the media in report- in particular areas. I think this increasing ing environmental issues are not too much sophistication is a good thing, but it is import- different from reporting other kinds of issues. ant for journalists to go beyond those vested The same requirements of accuracy, clarity interests and obvious sources to talk to people and those problematic concepts of balance and with a first-hand knowledge. This always takes objectivity apply. But because en!pironmental more time and the message might end up issues are often an amalgam of science, being the same, but the impact is stronger and economics, politics and values, reporting the credibility of the story is enhanced. environment is in some ways more difficult The person you are looking for might be a than other areas. scientist - it might be a sawmiller, a farmer or I might say that it is not for me to tell other someone who is experienced first-hand, what- journalists what their responsibilities might be. ever the situation is. I am pretty fresh to reporting on the environment, but I did have the advantage of working Peter Hunt was especially diligent about this with the best - albeit briefly. I am talking - some of you will remember his forestry pro- about the late great Dr Peter Hunt - grammes where he spoke with timber workers unquestionably Australia's best environment and sawmillers about waste and other - reporter. He really was a pioneer in this malpractice in the timber industry these relatively new field. His journalism was interviews were so much more convincing than distinguished by vigour, clarity, detailed getting information second hand from a research and an ingredient too often missing conservationist - however well meaning or in this field -humour. informed they might be. These are the qualities we want to bring to Another challenge for journalists is to "Green and Practical" - our attempt at a new penetrate the G~eenspeak which is so all kind of environment programme. What I am pervasive now - as John Hewson said saying today springs from the many discussions recently, "We're all green now." Sometimes the we have had about the new programme and propaganda emanating from industry and our weekly experience of making the show business bodies is barely distinguishable from with a small team and limited budget. that of the conservationists. This is especially A crucial issue is - Who sets the environmental true in the area of green marketing. I speak to agenda. I think it is fair to say that en\.'l ronment dozens ofp eople each week who say that what groups make most of the running here. They they are doing is "good for the environment" issue the faxes, make the phone calls and if it rather like some kind of green tonic. is exciting enough, the media follows. In This gets me on to the topic of complexity making a two-hour programme with few resources 1 ca.n~ i.~ ndersranrlt he temntarion ol. - and Recher's comments about simple le~ t~t i~ ng these groups do the ~~ g~r o~u~ ndL ~ w~or~k --~~- ~ - j-ou rnalists reporting complex issues. As I have esoeciallv for rhe electronic media l+.hich relies said, so much of this area is complex - it is o; a t~levis~ua-l "~ -el~ r~ent ~" to hang the story about science, economics, politics and values around. journalislu r,rcd ro take the initiatir,e all at once. Let us take science. Journalists themselves and their stories rather often get frustrated by the inability of scientists to talk in absolute terms, to make bold state- than lrraiting to be fed by green groups, have found, there are a million and one good ments and to predict outcomes. " environmental stories out there -one just has Science is all about theories that change, to get on the phone and find them. about doubt and asking questions - not This brings me to sources. The environment necessarily answering them. To a journalist movement has become increasingly specialized who wants to know if A will cause B this can in the past couple of years. There are now be very frustrating, so often the answer is "It people who havr developed a body of expertise depends." August 1993 Australian Zoologist. Voi. 29(1-2) 115 But overall, I think looking at the scientific diversity, intractable waste, the precautionary dimension of an environmental issue is a lot principle, old growth forests, to name but a more interesting and meaningful than getting few. We assume that people know what we are bogged down with the day-to-day politics. talking about but I am not sure that is always Some issues are too complex (and to be honest the case. And can we please find a substitute too dry) to make good radio - there are a few for "environmentally friendly"! issues I admit to putting in the too hard basket. Conflict is what a lot of reporting is all about When I work out ways of doing them interest- - it is the tension in a particular issue that ingly, I will. makes it interesting. On a simple level this is Since science is the starting point for a lot of about putting a "baddie" up against a "goodie". environmental issues, a bit of scientific literacy What we are trying to do is replace the simplistic goes a long way. Many times this year I have goodies and baddies type conflict with some- felt the need for a quick Ph.D. in chemistry, thing a bit more constructive. To challenge the forestry, not to mention marine biology and idea'that environmental protection always costs entomology. Of course, it is impossible to he jobs. To look at the merits of a particular issue fully informed across every discipline, but without trying to find polarized-points of view. having a unit within the ABC which specializes By doing the research and drawing our own in science programmes and employs scientists conclusions. is very important. There is no substitute for rigour and critical Like finance journalism, the language of the journalism in this field, as in any other. I think environment is becoming increasingly inacces- there is a mistaken view within the media that, sible and jargonistic. A survey by ARM because at a superficial level the environment Quantum (a Melbourne-based market research is about trees, cuddly and funy animals and company) on attitudes to the environment quality of life issues, it is a bit soft. Maybe even found that only about 12 per cent of people a bit wet and worthy. I think this is unfair -in had any idea what "sustainability" meant. It is the public's eye it is among the top three issues a word that is now used all the time and it is of concern. Of course, unemployment is supposed to form the basis of future economic number one in people's minds - that is under- development. We talk about some aspect of standable, we are in a recession. But the sustainability in our programme every week environment is well and truly on themuinstream but we have found that even among the agelula, and from my point of view it is one of environmental in-crowd there is a lot of dis- the most exciting areas to be in at the moment. agreement about what it actually means. Other That is, when I am not getting too depressed misunderstood terms include biological by the enormity of the problems which face us. 116 Australian Zoologist, Vol. 29(1-2)