Department of Urban and Environmental policy Environmental communication and education UEP 294A Julian Agyeman, UEP, Tufts University With support from Tufts Institute for the Environment Spring 2000 Monday 9.00-11.30am 97 Talbot Ave Office hours: Monday all day after class, and by appointment. 627 4017 julian.agyeman@tufts.edu Description "Mass media, science communication and educational research have all established the need for policy professionals to develop the skills required to inform and educate the public(s) about environmental and other policy issues. Informing and educating people is a lifelong process which can be done through a number of channels including formal and informal education. However the media is by far the greatest source of information for most people. This practical course, using experienced NPR and other journalists will develop your communication, media and educational skills through an investigation of: basic communications theory; public opinion; environmental literacy; the role of the mass media; risk communication; environmental education and education for sustainability" Course Objectives To identify and understand the role of the media and other actors in the development and construction of environmental news; To develop some media and communication skills; To appreciate the role of environmental education and education for sustainability. Course texts Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. Jacobson, S (1999) 'Communication skills for conservation professionals'. Washington DC. Island Press. These texts are available at the bookstore and on 3 hour loan it the Tisch Library. In addition, there is one other recommended text, which we will draw upon in our reading: Hannigan, J (1995) 'Environmental Sociology'. London. Routledge. Additional readings will be required. These will be given out prior to the class either as an internet URL, or as photocopies, or they will be available via the 3 hour loan it the Tisch Library. Recommended websites Tufts Institute for the Environment (TIE) http://www.tufts.edu/tie/ Planet Ark http://www.planetark.org/index.cfm Environmental News Network http://www.enn.com/index.asp oneworld.net http://www.oneworld.net/ Living on Earth http://www.loe.org/ Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment http://www.esf.edu/coce/ Environmental Communication Links http://www.esf.edu/coce/links.htm Environmental Communication Bibliography http://www.esf.edu/coce/bibl.htm Education for sustainability http://www.gcrio.org/edu/pcsd/chap1.html Teaching for a sustainable world http://ee.environment.gov.au/pd/tsw/intros/index.html EE Link: environmental education on the internet http://nceet.snre.umich.edu/ Second Nature/Starfish http://www.secondnature.org/programs/starfish/sfhome.nsf Massachusetts Audubon Society http://www.massaudubon.org/ Class Organization The first hour of classes 1-5 will be a discussion based loosely around the required readings. In the second hour of these classes we will have either expert speakers (see dates below) and/or further discussion based around a piece of environmental journalism. In classes 6-8, you will undertake a media workshop resulting in 2 pieces of assessed work. Classes 9-13 will be a mixture of lectures, discussions and outside speakers. Tentative schedule: Class 1 24th January Introduction to communication and education: elements of communications theory and theories of learning Introduction to the course Lecture and discussion Group exercise: The Montreal Biosafety Protocol. 2 31st January The social construction of environmental problems Readings: Hannigan, J (1995) 'The social construction of environmental problems' in Hannigan, J (1995) 'Environmental Sociology'. London. Routledge pp 32-57 Anderson, A (1997) 'Introduction' in Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. pp 1-15 Gelbspan, R (1998) The Battle for control of reality' Ch3 in 'The Heat Is On' Speaker: Ross Gelbspan: Author of 'The Heat is On" 3 7th February Where people get their news: mass media and the environment Readings: Hannigan, J (1995) 'News media and environmental communication' in Hannigan, J (1995) 'Environmental Sociology'. London. Routledge pp 58-75 Anderson, A (1997) 'Pressure politics and the news media' in Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. pp 17-44 Anderson, A (1997) 'News production' in Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. pp 45-73 Speakers: Scott Allen, Environment Reporter, Boston Globe 4 14th February Public relations, public opinion and the environment Readings: Riley Dunlap 'Public opinion and environmental policy' in Lester, JP (1997)(ed) Environmental Politics and Policy (Second Edition) Durham. Duke University Press pp 63-114. Anderson, A (1997) 'Public opinion and news media representations of environmental issues' in Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. pp 177-202 Speaker: Kara Quirk, Marketing Manager, Massachusetts Audubon Society (www.massaudubon.org) 5 24th February Environmental risk communication Readings: Hannigan, J (1995) 'Constructing environmental risks' in Hannigan, J (1995) 'Environmental Sociology'. London. Routledge pp 92-108 Anderson, A (1997) 'News and the social construction of the environment' in Anderson, A (1997) 'Media, Culture and the Environment'. New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. pp 107-135 Krimsky, S and Plough, A (1988) 'Introduction: the meanings of risk communication' in Krimsky, S and Plough, A (1988) Environmental hazards: communicating risk as a social process'. Dover MA. Auburn House. Pp 1-12 Dunwoody, S and Griffin, R (1993) 'Journalistic strategies for reporting long-term environmental issues: a case study of three Superfund sites in Hansen, A (1993) 'The mass media and environmental issues'. Leicester. Leicester University Press. pp 22-50 Speaker: Professor Sheldon Krimsky 6 28th February Media workshop 1: Research skills for environmental communication Reading: Jacobson, S (1999) 'Research for conservation communications' in Jacobson, S (1999) 'Communication skills for conservation professionals'. Washington DC. Island Press. pp 29-82 Activity: Using media databases: Regina Raboin, Tisch Library 7 6th March (No class-work on your own!) Media workshop 2: Designing a public communications campaign Reading Jacobson, S (1999) 'Designing a public communications campaign' in Jacobson, S (1999) 'Communication skills for conservation professionals'. Washington DC. Island Press. pp 83-135 Activity: Begin communications campaign planning project 8 13th March Media workshop 3: Using mass media Reading: Jacobson, S (1999) 'Using the mass media' in Jacobson, S (1999) 'Communication skills for conservation professionals'. Washington DC. Island Press. pp 137-183 Activity: Begin newspaper or radio project. 9 27th March Environmental literacy Readings: Orr, D (1992) 'Ecological literacy' in Orr, D ' Ecological literacy: Education and the transition to a postmodern world'. Albany. SUNY Press. pp 85-95 National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (1998) 'The National Report Card on Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors' Washington DC. NEETF. pp 1-53 Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF), http://www.center1.com/ulsf/ 10 3 April Environmental education: from nature to the noösphere Readings Teaching for a Sustainable World: International Edition. http://ee.environment.gov.au/pd/tsw/intros/index.html Sterling, S (1996) 'Education in change' in Sterling, S and Huckle, J (eds) 'Education for Sustainability. London. Earthscan. Pp 18-39 Tilbury, D (1995) 'Environmental education for sustainability: defining a new focus for environmental education in the 1990s' Environmental Education Research Vol 1 No 2 pp 195-212 Wals, A and van der Vleij, T (1997) 'Alternatives to national standards for environmental education: process based quality assessment. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education p7-34 11 10th April Environmental education projects Speakers: Clare Allen, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project Katy Chapdelaine, Massachusetts Audubon Society 12 24th April Presentations of communications campaign design projects External adviser: Kara Quirk, Marketing Manager, Massachusetts Audubon Society 13 1st May Education and communication towards sustainability: how can we be more effective? Readings: To be assigned Class debate Course Requirements and Assessment Clearly, to cover the ground of this syllabus will require that students complete the required class readings before each class, and come to class ready to discuss the readings. Research essay 30% Communications campaign design project 35% Newspaper or radio project. 20% Class participation 15% Research Essay Guidance The research essay (8 page) can be on any communication, media and/or education related theme arising from the course. However, purely descriptive essays are not acceptable. I am looking for your use of the course readings to construct a critical assessment of a particular newspaper article, news story, event, piece of TV or radio journalism, environmental education report, theme or project. Please make an appointment to see me by February 14th to discuss your essay title. Essays are due on or before May 1st Research essays, of 8 pages (4000) words excluding references, must be typed, single space, with illustrations, diagrams, graphs or charts as you deem appropriate. The format of the essay should be based on a clear introduction which fully explains the topic or theme and the context or issue you are discussing. This should be followed by one or more arguments and supporting evidence which are your critical assessment. This should make up the main body of the paper, followed by a conclusion, where you summarize, and make your position clear. I will be looking for, in addition to a format based on that above: evidence of broad reading within the topic, theme or issue you are discussing. You should aim to utilize the range of resources offered by the course and the Tisch library. Clear referencing should be based on the Harvard system where surname of author and date in brackets should be given in the text eg Jones (1990), and quotations in your text should give a page number eg Jones (1990 p4). Full reference details should be listed in alphabetical order at the end of the paper eg Jones, B (1990) 'Rebel without a clue' London. Earthscan). However, of paramount importance are original ideas and perspectives. I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the need for good grammar. Communications campaign design project and Newspaper or radio project. Using course readings, especially those in Jacobson, S (1999) 'Communication skills for conservation professionals'. Washington DC. Island Press: a) plan an environmental communications campaign for either the organization you work/volunteer for, Tufts Institute for the Environment (Lynn Zanski), Tufts Climate Initiative (Sarah Hammond Creighton) or another named organization up to the implementation phase. This means reviewing the organizational mission and goals; identifying target audiences; determining specific objectives; identifying resources and constraints and assessing potential approaches and activities (see p 84 Jacobson). If you would do not have an organization, or campaign idea in mind, Kara Quirk, Marketing Manager, Massachusetts Audubon Society (kquirk@massaudubon.org) has kindly agreed to assist. b) write a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for a radio station, press/news release or short feature article on a current environmental theme which interests you. If you would like to record your PSA as well, go ahead! Your newspaper or radio project should be handed in on April 10th. Your communications campaign design project will be presented to the class on April 24th. You may use any audio visual device you choose, or you can use a flip chart etc. Your newspaper or radio project should be handed in on April 10th Classroom participation As part of your classroom participation mark, you will be expected to bring to class in each of weeks 1-5 an environmental news item which you should be prepared to critically discuss, using some of the analyses in your reading. This can be local, national or international news in printed or in video format. You might consider using web based news services such as Planet Ark, Environmental News Network or oneworld.net whose URLs are listed above