Here is an article from the scientific press which reinforces my views of the
misreporting of the global warming "debate" by the BBC. It is not only in hte
US that the balance is biased!

Cheers, Alastair.

Balance as bias: global warming and the US prestige press
Maxwell T. Boykoff and Jules M. Boykoff
Global Environmental Change Part A
Volume 14, Issue 2 , July 2004, Pages 125-136

Abstract
This paper demonstrates that US prestige-press coverage of global warming from
1988 to 2002 has contributed to a significant divergence of popular discourse
from scientific discourse. This failed discursive translation results from an
accumulation of tactical media responses and practices guided by widely
accepted journalistic norms. Through content analysis of US prestige
press-meaning the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times,
and the Wall Street Journal-this paper focuses on the norm of balanced
reporting, and shows that the prestige press's adherence to balance actually
leads to biased coverage of both anthropogenic contributions to global warming
and resultant action.

"Alastair McDonald" k
wrote in message

Here is an article from the scientific press which reinforces my views of the
misreporting of the global warming "debate" by the BBC. It is not only in hte
US that the balance is biased!

Balance as bias: global warming and the US prestige press
Maxwell T. Boykoff and Jules M. Boykoff
Global Environmental Change Part A
Volume 14, Issue 2 , July 2004, Pages 125-136

Technology Already Exists to Stabilize Global Warming
August 12 — Existing technologies could stop the escalation of global
warming for 50 years and work on implementing them can begin
immediately, according to an analysis by Princeton University
scientists. (PhysOrg.com, Christian Science Monitor)

New Findings Show Earth is Not Getting Warmer
August 12 — Contrary to most research, a new study finds the Earth is
not warming significantly, say scientists with the universities of
Rochester and Virginia. (U.S. Newswire)

Reefs Get Global Warming Lifeline
August 11 — New research shows that some forms of algae can allow coral
to withstand higher temperatures, potentially reducing the impact of
global warming. (Nature, CBC)

Almost every other article in:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/New...01/200108.html is
about global warming. In a democratic use of statistics, global warming
would be proven. Fortunately most sciences still require facts not
opinion.



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On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 11:21:04 +0100, "Alastair McDonald"
k wrote:

Here is an article from the scientific press which reinforces my views of the
misreporting of the global warming "debate" by the BBC. It is not only in hte
US that the balance is biased!

I interpreted the paper as saying that because the reporting was
*balanced* - not biased - because of "journalistic balance" - that not
enough weight is being given to global warming. That GW is even worse
than the papers make out as the press is trying to be so balanced in
its reporting.

Part of the conclusion states "The central messages in the
generally-agreed-upon scientific discourse have therefore not be
proliferated by the mass media into the popular arena".

The author states

"The proper response to public doubts is not to increase the public's
technical knowledge about and therefore belief in the scientific facts
of global war,ing. Rather it should be to increase the public
understanding of and therefore trust in the social process through
which those facts are scientifically determined".

I think the author is saying - stuff the science, if we present global
warming using good drama, then the public will take note.

But I see the BBC as *not* giving a balanced view of GW. I haven't
seen or heard documentaries talking about global staying pretty much
the same, some years better, some years worse.

Jeepers. Last years fabulous summer was blamed on global warming. And
so is this years dire summer. "Worst August on record" screams the
BBC, ignoring all the other wetter Augusts.

Anyway, I'm even more confused now.

Noz

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