grocott’s mail policy for reporting on issues regarding the environment

Grocott’s MailGrocott’s Mail

Policy for reporting on issues Policy for reporting on issues regarding theregarding the

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Research GroupResearch Group

Nicola KaneNicola Kane Lindsay du PlessisLindsay du Plessis Jacqueline van StadenJacqueline van Staden Wilma den HartighWilma den Hartigh Stephan BuchananStephan Buchanan

Research AimsResearch Aims

To provide a clear definition of what the broad To provide a clear definition of what the broad term “environment” means when put in the term “environment” means when put in the context of reporting on it.context of reporting on it.

To provide a background of existing industry To provide a background of existing industry policies from which to work and build on.policies from which to work and build on.

To provide theoretical reasoning that clearly To provide theoretical reasoning that clearly backs up the proposed policies.backs up the proposed policies.

Research AimsResearch Aims

To provide a wide range of Grahamstown To provide a wide range of Grahamstown public opinion regarding reporting on public opinion regarding reporting on environmental issues.environmental issues.

To provide clear, practical and functional To provide clear, practical and functional proposals for environmental policy that can be proposals for environmental policy that can be built upon in the future.built upon in the future.

Research MethodsResearch Methods

Qualitative researchQualitative research

Open-ended questionsOpen-ended questions

One-on-one interviewsOne-on-one interviews

Internet sourcingInternet sourcing

InterviewsInterviews

Our interviews were STRUCTURED and Our interviews were STRUCTURED and UNSTRUCTURED where we asked more general UNSTRUCTURED where we asked more general things about :things about :

Any previous experiences with Grocott’s Mail Any previous experiences with Grocott’s Mail reporting/not reporting on aspects of their workreporting/not reporting on aspects of their work

Sorts of environmental issues they felt were worth Sorts of environmental issues they felt were worth convering.convering.

In what ways it would be beneficial to report more on In what ways it would be beneficial to report more on environmental issues.environmental issues.

QuestionsQuestions

The questions we asked:The questions we asked: What are their (the person interviewed) What are their (the person interviewed)

responsibilities i.e. In their department in responsibilities i.e. In their department in terms of the environment?terms of the environment?

What aspects of their work needs more What aspects of their work needs more coverage?coverage?

What kinds of projects are they involved in What kinds of projects are they involved in that relates to the environment?that relates to the environment?

Areas encompassed by the term Areas encompassed by the term ‘environment’‘environment’

Fauna and FloraFauna and Flora

Water PollutionWater Pollution

Air PollutionAir Pollution

ConservationConservation


Commercial PolicyCommercial Policy

Environmental InstitutesEnvironmental Institutes

ResearchResearch


AgricultureAgriculture

Game FarmsGame Farms

Rhodes Environmental ActivityRhodes Environmental Activity

Existing Industry PolicyExisting Industry Policy

Grocott’s currently does not have a policy.Grocott’s currently does not have a policy. Very few actual policies.Very few actual policies. Society of Environmental Journalists:Society of Environmental Journalists:

To encourage addition or expansion of environmental To encourage addition or expansion of environmental reporting positions within broadcast, print, etc.reporting positions within broadcast, print, etc.

To stimulate more and better coverage of a range of To stimulate more and better coverage of a range of critically important environmental issues.critically important environmental issues.

To increase use of information resources, training, and To increase use of information resources, training, and educational events that are already available to educational events that are already available to journalists and editors who may be covering the journalists and editors who may be covering the environment.environment.

Theoretical BackgroundTheoretical Background

““Environmental reporting will gain new Environmental reporting will gain new significance as the impact of stresses on the significance as the impact of stresses on the planet’s resources, in particular fresh water planet’s resources, in particular fresh water and climate, become more evident. In national and climate, become more evident. In national and global efforts to mitigate the impact of and global efforts to mitigate the impact of this, and to develop responses in policy as well this, and to develop responses in policy as well as lifestyle, the news media may find itself in a as lifestyle, the news media may find itself in a new and unfamiliar role” – Environmental new and unfamiliar role” – Environmental Reporting: Green InkReporting: Green Ink

Theoretical BackgroundTheoretical Background

"Many researchers and environmental experts "Many researchers and environmental experts bombard journalists with a series of facts and bombard journalists with a series of facts and statistics and fail to assemble effective media statistics and fail to assemble effective media packs." - Singy Hanyona.packs." - Singy Hanyona.

"There is need to establish a linkage for the "There is need to establish a linkage for the media and environmental experts and media and environmental experts and scientists to enhance information availability." scientists to enhance information availability." - Bwalya Nondo. - Bwalya Nondo.

Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Sean Haydock, owner and founder of Sean Haydock, owner and founder of Grahamstown Recycling:Grahamstown Recycling:

Issues of waste removal, including sewage and refuse Issues of waste removal, including sewage and refuse dumping.dumping.

RecyclingRecycling Entrepreneurial and community activities.Entrepreneurial and community activities. Positive and success stories.Positive and success stories. An environment page.An environment page. Empower readers through information.Empower readers through information.


Johann Esterhuizen – Head of Department: Johann Esterhuizen – Head of Department: Environmental Health, Makana MunicipalityEnvironmental Health, Makana Municipality

Stray animalsStray animals Cattle and the spread of diseases (problem in township Cattle and the spread of diseases (problem in township

where people keep their cattle close to their residences where people keep their cattle close to their residences in the fear of stock theft).in the fear of stock theft).

General: potential health risks caused by things like General: potential health risks caused by things like illegal dumping, inadequate waste management etc.illegal dumping, inadequate waste management etc.

Department would like more exposure.Department would like more exposure.


Kevin Budge – Assistant Director: Parks and Kevin Budge – Assistant Director: Parks and Recreation, Makana MunicipalityRecreation, Makana Municipality Conservation of the environment (not just outside, Conservation of the environment (not just outside,

but in town).but in town). Progress reports on major projects, e.g. “Albany Progress reports on major projects, e.g. “Albany

Working for Water”.Working for Water”. Areas of concern:Areas of concern:

Encroachment of alien vegetation.Encroachment of alien vegetation. Animals encroaching on town.Animals encroaching on town.


Greening programmes and the rationale behind them:Greening programmes and the rationale behind them: Importance of using a good environment to attract tourism.Importance of using a good environment to attract tourism. Amenities for recreation.Amenities for recreation. Greening of cityGreening of city ““A good environment is important for good quality of life”A good environment is important for good quality of life”

Youth programmesYouth programmes Crimes against the environment and law enforcement.Crimes against the environment and law enforcement.

About PolicyAbout Policy

The proposed policies were devised by The proposed policies were devised by Journalism 3 students completing a Media Journalism 3 students completing a Media Policy course during October 2003.Policy course during October 2003.

It is expected that the policies will be used by It is expected that the policies will be used by all staff working for the Grocott’s Mail.all staff working for the Grocott’s Mail.

The policies have been devised to be as The policies have been devised to be as practical and easy to implement as possible.practical and easy to implement as possible.

Policy ProposalsPolicy Proposals

Need for more balanced view of Need for more balanced view of Municipality’s work concerning the Municipality’s work concerning the environment: Grocott’s should be careful not environment: Grocott’s should be careful not to report only on failures, but also successes.to report only on failures, but also successes.

““Success stories” can often be found in Success stories” can often be found in ongoing projects, many of which have a ongoing projects, many of which have a strong social development, youth and/or strong social development, youth and/or educational ethos. educational ethos.


Reporting on the environment is currently Reporting on the environment is currently adequate in some areas, e.g. covering Arbour adequate in some areas, e.g. covering Arbour Week or dealing with Botanical Gardens, but Week or dealing with Botanical Gardens, but some specific areas need more attention:some specific areas need more attention:


The benefits of maintaining a green The benefits of maintaining a green Grahamstown: for tourism as well as Grahamstown: for tourism as well as general “quality of life”.general “quality of life”.

The importance of Environmental Health: The importance of Environmental Health: stray animals, diseases, waste management.stray animals, diseases, waste management.

The strong link between the environment The strong link between the environment and social development/poverty alleviation and social development/poverty alleviation opportunities.opportunities.

Policy ProposalPolicy Proposal

Reporting on the environment should be Reporting on the environment should be guided by a sense that:guided by a sense that:

The environment is important for everyone’s The environment is important for everyone’s quality of life.quality of life.

The environment is about people and not just The environment is about people and not just plants and animals.plants and animals.

Communicating about the environment is Communicating about the environment is essential to facilitating constructive solutions to essential to facilitating constructive solutions to various challenges and problems.various challenges and problems.

MonitoringMonitoring

Third year Journalism students to access and Third year Journalism students to access and change (where necessary) the policies on a change (where necessary) the policies on a yearly basis as part of their Media Policy yearly basis as part of their Media Policy course.course.

The Advisory Board may also choose to The Advisory Board may also choose to access the policies and their practicality.access the policies and their practicality.

Success will be measured by any increase in Success will be measured by any increase in the amount of coverage that is given to the the amount of coverage that is given to the environment.environment.

ImplementationImplementation

Implementation overseen by editor.Implementation overseen by editor. Students working for Grocott’s will be taught Students working for Grocott’s will be taught

the policies as part of their course.the policies as part of their course. Lecturers to ensure that students adhere to Lecturers to ensure that students adhere to

policies.policies. Clear and accessible copies of policies to be Clear and accessible copies of policies to be

kept in the Grocott’s offices.kept in the Grocott’s offices.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

grocott’s mail policy for reporting on issues regarding the environment

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