It has been only three decades since the first environmental laws were enacted. While most experts believe the laws have increased the quality of our lives, various debates over the resulting costs and benefits rage on.
Reporting on these issues are thousands of journalists whose newspapers articles and television segments influence hundreds of millions of people every day. These journalists are required to sort out the conflicting opinions offered by activists and representatives of government and industry, and then presenting the information in a balanced manner. This is no easy task.
A poll of more than 200 environmental journalists conducted several years ago by the Foundation of American Communications found that most lacked sufficient training to cover complex subjects.
The poll also found that these reporters relied chiefly on government and environmental activists for their information.
Opportunities exist for the copper industry to assist these journalists in reporting on environmental issues. The challenge to educate them is ours. We can start by making the scientific facts surrounding copper easier to understand. We should reach out to reporters, regulators, communities and our own industry and be ready to tell our story.
— The preceding is an excerpt from Copper Update, the publication of New York, N.Y.-based International Copper Association.
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