Our Vision to Provide the Most Comprehensive News
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Editorial Our vision To provide the most comprehensive news coverage on the issue of climate change and key related issues such as biodiversity and the degradation of natural resources. These topics will be explored from the social, economic, political and scientific perspectives, both nationally and globally. We will promote public debate and harness the power of our readers and users by creating online tools and projects that give them the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas, as well as encouraging them to make a difference, both as individuals and within their communities. Social justice has always been at the heart of our journalism and we will consistently give voice to disadvantaged communities around the world most affected by climate change Sustainability coverage “It amounts to a devastatingly convincing Global warming argument of the urgent need for all of us to change our energy-guzzling behaviour. Even Incidence of the phrase �global warming� in the UK daily press, 1996 - 2006 1,000 if Stern is half right then, as a modern version Guardian of Pascal’s wager might say, the consequence Sun of doing nothing is still so dreadful that it 800 Times ought not to be contemplated.” Independent Guardian leader article on publication of the Stern 600 Daily Mail* report on climate change (October 31 2006) Telegraph Mirror 400 Express** he Guardian was one of the first media organisations 200 to take seriously the threat caused by our unsustainable use of the planet’s resources. 0 As our environment editor 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 TJohn Vidal points out on page 13, we can *Archived from Nov 1997. ** Archived from April 2000 pinpoint the moment in 1988 when it first hit many editors and writers that climate Climate change change was not just another unsubstantiated Incidence of the phrase �climate change� in the UK daily press, January 1 - June 26 2007 scientific theory but that we were on the road to possible catastrophe. Our response now, as it was then, has been to inform and educate 849 our readers on the threat and in more recent years to encourage them through our ethical living pages in both the Guardian and the Observer to question and change their own 578 572 individual behaviour. Telegraph Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger is Daily Mail unequivocal in his belief that climate change 394 343 Mirror and associated areas of sustainability such as Express the loss of biodiversity, are “by far the biggest 252 Sun issues we are facing today. We have a very 212 great responsibility to cover it thoroughly and 159 Guardian Independent Times continuously. News has its own particular way of working, which means that lesser SOURCE: RESEARCH STUDY BY GUY SHRUBSOLE USING THE GUARDIAN’S ONLINE NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE (JUNE 2007) issues do force themselves on to the front page and force issues such as climate change A study shows the Guardian Guardian wrote about climate change 849 off it. That is the way news works. times, compared with 578 in the Independent “But a paper like the Guardian has a has written more about and 212 in the Express (see graphic above). responsibility to have the resources, expertise global warming in the past Counting the number of articles is a crude and knowledge to explain, test and champion measure, however, and does not take into stories and ideas. That is why we have a decade than any other paper account the enormous range and depth of team of more than a dozen journalists whose our unrivalled coverage (see sustainability responsibilities are either exclusively or global warming in the past decade than any content, page 14). While we hope our largely focused in this area.” (See box below.) other newspaper in the UK, apart from a brief coverage gives our readership the tools In fact, a study has shown that the blip in 2006 when the Independent carried to become more active citizens, we are Guardian has consistently written more about more. In the first six months of 2007, the very clear it is not our job to cajole people. Similarly, we do not see it as our job to launch Journalists who write regularly on sustainability issues specific campaigns in a bid to force politicians or public bodies down a particular path. John Vidal Environment editor, Guardian “I think campaigning can make you feel David Adam Environment correspondent, Guardian good without actually producing results,” Alok Jha Science correspondent, Guardian says Rusbridger. “You can watch newspapers Ian Sample Science correspondent, Guardian campaigning on this subject where readers Felicity Lawrence Food correspondent, Guardian just end up switching off. The law of Larry Elliott Economics editor, Guardian diminishing returns operates here because Ashley Seager Economics reporter, Guardian the more campaigns you launch, the less Terry Macalister Industrial correspondent, Guardian impact they have. Most people get the issues. Leo Hickman Ethical living correspondent, Guardian They don’t need to be lectured. They want Dan Milmo Transport correspondent, Guardian useful advice on what they can do and they Dominic Murphy Gardening and ethical living correspondent, Guardian want utterly reliable reporting and analysis Matt Seaton Cycling columnist, Guardian so they can make sense of the issues. Calm, Bibi Van der Zee Environmental and ethical living writer, Guardian measured journalism has more effect long George Monbiot Columnist, Guardian term than making gestures or bellowing.” Juliette Jowit Environment correspondent, Observer Our approach does seem to be paying Robin McKie Science editor, Observer dividends. Our annual survey of Guardian Lucy Siegle Ethical living correspondent, Observer and Observer readers and Guardian Unlimited Simon Caulkin Management editor, Observer users shows that we are having an impact. Alison Benjamin Environment site editor, Guardian Unlimited For the third consecutive year our Matthew Weaver Environment and community affairs correspondent, Guardian Unlimited readership say we have influenced them Murray Armstrong Editor, the Giving List across a large range of sustainability-related issues, ranging from energy saving and 11 Sustainability coverage recycling to purchasing fair trade products and reducing the number of car journeys and flights people take (see page 23 for details). Complexity and politics While it is gratifying that our readership is responding to the challenges of climate change and the degradation of natural resources, we recognise that where we can have most influence is in the political arena as the decisions taken by politicians both in this country and around the world offer the greatest chance of ensuring that sustainability issues are addressed. In any free society, the press has a core responsibility to hold politicians and other public figures to account. We take very seriously our duty to expose wrongdoing or failures by politicians, public servants or business leaders to keep to public commitments to change. For example, the Guardian broke an important story in August 2007 about civil servants briefing ministers that Britain had no chance of getting near its target of generating 20% of its energy from renewable energy by 2020 and suggesting ways to wriggle out of it. Our leader article that day said: “Few claim there are easy choices to be made in reducing Britain’s carbon footprint. But the public cannot hold an honest debate or support difficult decisions if it is led by a government that continues to be, despite all A coal-fired power station towers over a field of rapeseed, used to produce biofuel Photo: PA the protestation, cynical beyond belief about the presentation of policy.” ‘If we had nothing to do with within the company. What is clear is that our Conversely, it is also important to editors are incorporating sustainability into acknowledge those in power when any form of consumption, their thinking, but it is a difficult judgment courageous decisions are taken. The reading the Guardian would call on what is the correct balance. publication of the Climate Change Bill in Rusbridger says: “Of course you could March 2007 prompted this leader comment: become a duty not a pleasure’ edit a paper that was rather joyless and hair- “Britain’s political and media culture is good shirted and puritan and monotone, and at at offering such necessary scepticism. It is increasing rapidity appear to become part of times in its life the Guardian has been slightly much less good at embracing the possibility the problem. like that. Lord Robert Cecil once said it was of change … Whether for reasons of fashion Rusbridger says it is important not to fall righteousness made readable. or belief, all likely future prime ministers are into the trap of reporting only one side of a “It is a matter of judgment. If you had beginning to turn talk of action into specific story, even when it is persuasive. “In many nothing to do with any form of consumption, proposals. Future generations may wish cases the conventional wisdom of one age your circulation would take a big dip and more had been done. They will not resent can seem foolish, partial or blinkered in time. reading the Guardian would become a duty yesterday’s serious attempt to make a start.” And, even where most of the arguments seem rather than a pleasure. We would be moving Rusbridger believes the reason we to be stacked on one side, we should still away from journalism and reporting the influence decision makers is not only because reflect the other side of the debate.” world as it is to preaching. So as long as you of the calm and measured nature of our do these things in reasonable proportion reporting and analysis but also because we Hypocrisy? and balance, I do not think we should stop recognise that there are no simple solutions covering aspects of consuming such as travel to the challenges faced by climate change.