Noticing a certain amount of (much needed) media self-criticism right now, on the failure of American journalism to do anything like an adequate job reporting on the worsening planetary crisis over the last 30 years.
But there's a critical lapse not being discussed...
1/?
But there's a critical lapse not being discussed...
1/?
During that time, some folks were doing great work.
Hundred of journalists and public intellectuals were covering these problems, unpacking the systems that caused them, exploring solutions, anticipating the world we live in now.
Hundred of journalists and public intellectuals were covering these problems, unpacking the systems that caused them, exploring solutions, anticipating the world we live in now.
They were largely ignored and unsupported.
Their work was not reviewed, their stories not picked up, their opinion pieces declined. They were not hired, not funded, not given awards, not brought into think tanks or universities.
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Their work was not reviewed, their stories not picked up, their opinion pieces declined. They were not hired, not funded, not given awards, not brought into think tanks or universities.
3/
The story of the planetary crisis was being told, while it worsened.
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The gatekeepers of our public debate, though, made the decision—repeatedly, for years on end—that this story should not be lifted up... and most especially that the outdated frames governing climate/environmental debates should not be challenged.
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5/
Some in the media, academic and philanthropic worlds want to absolve themselves of responsibility by saying "We got it wrong, how could we have known, though?"
This is bullshit. They did know. They were told. They were offered new approaches. They *chose* not to move forward.
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This is bullshit. They did know. They were told. They were offered new approaches. They *chose* not to move forward.
6
I know this because I was there.
The people working to tell the story of the planetary crisis in new, insightful, powerful ways were my friends, colleagues, coworkers.
7.
The people working to tell the story of the planetary crisis in new, insightful, powerful ways were my friends, colleagues, coworkers.
7.
They and I know that the failure of American public discourse on this issue was not a failure of information or talent or craft or audience, but of courage.
8.
8.
And—as welcome as it is to see that failure finally being discussed in public—we are not seeing much actual commitment to the kind of storytelling and discussion we need *now*.
Instead, we're getting the work we should have gotten 10, 20, 30 years ago.
That's not good enough.
Instead, we're getting the work we should have gotten 10, 20, 30 years ago.
That's not good enough.
