What questions do scientists and policy analysts have for journalists?

[Betsy Hubbard]

As you know, we want this conference to be very interactive--the goal is to create dialogue among researchers and journalists, not just host one-way lectures. Thus, we've asked our speakers to participate in this social network and include any questions they may have for journalists.

[Doug Alsdorf]

I'll get us started:

(1) What role do journalists view themselves as having when presenting environmental issues such as climate change? Is the role one of advocacy, or presenting of facts, or of "teaching" the reader?

(2) Journalists have lots of contact with their readers, so what do the readers think about climate change? Is it important in the upcoming election or not that important (e.g., will votes swing on climate change issues?).

(3) In the past, environmental issues tended to be localized, like pollution in a river. Climate change, however, is global. How do journalists report on what is global problem to a local readership? How do you get them interested in something this big and vast?

Thanks!