Newspapers are here to inform people of news local and worldwide, but also they are a business intent on making money. Research has shown that people are more interested in what has gone wrong in either their local community, or worldwide than the things that have gone right. This is likely to encourage British newspapers to publicise more negative reports rather than positive ones in order to sell more copies of their paper.
‘Peoples' interest in news is much more intense when there is a perceived threat to their way of life.’-http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2007/sep/04/thegoodnewsaboutbadnewsi
This may or may not make the content of such reports unreliable. Although negative issues may be further publicised than positive ones it does not mean that their content is over exaggerated or that a newspaper misinforms its readers.
Shown from research, the sort of newspaper will also reflect the type of information it reveals to its readers, for example broadsheets, overall are far more informative than tabloids. However this may in fact be irrelevant as different newspapers attract different types of people, for example those who read tabloids may not even be interested in informative articles surrounding climate change.
When it comes to climate change almost every, (if not every) newspaper article will concentrate on the negative impacts of climate change. It can be argued that for every positive difference made due to climate change there is a counterbalancing negative one and as previously mentioned negative issues are more widely publicised. This gives the impression that all aspects of climate change are bad. However, is the idea of informing people of these changes and ways to prevent them really such and issue?
It is fairly obvious to say that climate change reports are often linked to the idea of ‘sustainable development’. The reason for this opinion is that with negative reports readers are often given information about how to deal with such issues and when it comes to climate change, they are informed on how to reduce their own individual impacts.
In conclusion, negative reports about climate change are likely to be reliable, but the range in information about other issues surrounding climate change are likely to be ill-informed.
Further reading:
‘Brighter sun adds to fears of climate change’ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article696586.ece
‘Wildlife gives early warning of 'deadly dozen' diseases spread by climate change’
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4902669.ece
‘Arctic ice 'could melt in five years' as climate change accelerates’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1079064/Arctic-ice-melt-years-climate-change-accelerates.html
‘China urges rich nations to help poor fight climate change’
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200810291522.htm
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Private cars
Lack of progress?
Lack of progress in cutting Co2 emissions is possibly due to that fact we'll spend what seems like a lifetime stuck in congestion, which causes excessive emissions. Of course in places such as London where public transport, walking or cycling is seemingly stress free, the rest of us outside of congested city areas still favour the convenience of our vehicles for a short journey or a longer one that could otherwise be shared with another person on a similar route.
Lets face it- the thought of standing waiting for a bus, cycling or walking in the rain doesn't appeal to most, unless you're and 'outdoorsy' sort of person (or you don't drive, which still doesn't mean its appealing).
Another possible reason for lack of progress is that families are likely to now need more than one car for their household because both parents may work as the cost of living has risen.
However, although there has been little progress in the reduction of emissions, people are much more aware of the impacts these emissions empose on peoples health and the environment.
People are now looking in to new ways of reducing emissions such as; better public transport- Sheffield tram system for example has been improved dramatically in the past two years, car sharing is now being publicised more frequently than before and 'cycle or walk to work' days are now planned every year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7363353.stm
Walk to work day in 2008 was 24th April, and aimed to reduce congestion, noise and encourage commuters to find alternative ways of getting to work.
'Private cars' indicator a good choice?
This indicator can provide a good insight to the increasing number of vehicles on Britains roads causing congestion and then inturn vast amounts of emissions.
However, we already know there is an increasing number of cars per household and this is likely to increase more.
What may be an option to consider monitoring is the type of private cars owned by households and their individual Co2 emissions. With global warming as a constant news report, car owners are forced to think about buying environmentaly friendly vehicles if they still insist on using their more convenient form of transport.
In an overview it must be argued that private vehicles as an idividual indicator is not accurate and that there should be other sub-indicators within this topic.
Lack of progress in cutting Co2 emissions is possibly due to that fact we'll spend what seems like a lifetime stuck in congestion, which causes excessive emissions. Of course in places such as London where public transport, walking or cycling is seemingly stress free, the rest of us outside of congested city areas still favour the convenience of our vehicles for a short journey or a longer one that could otherwise be shared with another person on a similar route.
Lets face it- the thought of standing waiting for a bus, cycling or walking in the rain doesn't appeal to most, unless you're and 'outdoorsy' sort of person (or you don't drive, which still doesn't mean its appealing).
Another possible reason for lack of progress is that families are likely to now need more than one car for their household because both parents may work as the cost of living has risen.
However, although there has been little progress in the reduction of emissions, people are much more aware of the impacts these emissions empose on peoples health and the environment.
People are now looking in to new ways of reducing emissions such as; better public transport- Sheffield tram system for example has been improved dramatically in the past two years, car sharing is now being publicised more frequently than before and 'cycle or walk to work' days are now planned every year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7363353.stm
Walk to work day in 2008 was 24th April, and aimed to reduce congestion, noise and encourage commuters to find alternative ways of getting to work.
'Private cars' indicator a good choice?
This indicator can provide a good insight to the increasing number of vehicles on Britains roads causing congestion and then inturn vast amounts of emissions.
However, we already know there is an increasing number of cars per household and this is likely to increase more.
What may be an option to consider monitoring is the type of private cars owned by households and their individual Co2 emissions. With global warming as a constant news report, car owners are forced to think about buying environmentaly friendly vehicles if they still insist on using their more convenient form of transport.
In an overview it must be argued that private vehicles as an idividual indicator is not accurate and that there should be other sub-indicators within this topic.
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