When is "the news" not the news?
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One answer is "when it deliberately misleads the reader."
Unfortunately, some newspapers do this routinely on the issue of Climate Change. An example of this is an article in the Australian last Monday.
The headline "Climate Change a Cold Fact of Life" with subtitle, "The Fact is that Our Earth has Ice in its Veins" mocked "alarmists" and "activists" and used irrelevant geological references to suggest that the idea of attempting to curb the worst effects of climate change is "barking mad."
Google the article, then the author; David Shelley. To credit him as a source, the Australian stated that he "lectured in geology at New Zealand's Canterbury University."
A two minute search will reveal papers he published in 1968, 1975 and the early 1980's. You'll also see that his work was in the area of petrology, not climatology.
We have credible sources within our own community who can provide accurate information on Climate Change.
- Kate Hook
I also emailed the faculty he belonged to at Canterbury University to clarify his background. I included the article.
I received back this response from Associate Professor Catherine Reid, Head of Department: "I can assure you that the opinions of David Shelley are not shared by the Department of Geological Sciences and its current academic staff. David Shelley retired from our Department some time ago and is not on the current teaching or research staff. It is a shame that a newspaper would choose to publish such an article"
In this instance, the "source" of "news" has no credibility at all.
At the June 25 council meeting, all but three councillors voted against a motion that Orange should join over 630 jurisdictions worldwide, in declaring a Climate Emergency.
The video of the meeting featured phrases such as "I'm not an expert but you read that..." and "I don't really understand all this but we're told....."
If their source of information about climate change is The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, and others that regularly mislead readers as per the above example, it's no wonder they feel confused.
We have credible sources within our own community who can provide accurate information on Climate Change.
Futuring Orange will be providing free public forums on the topic and local councillors, plus our state and federal representatives will be warmly invited to attend.
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