There is an article by Canwest News reporter, Mike De Souza today about a newly released document from the Canadian federal government (Environment Canada)
A dramatic reduction in Canadian media coverage of climate change science issues is the result of the Harper government introducing new rules in 2007 to control interviews by Environment Canada scientists with journalists,
Scientists have noticed a major reduction in the number of requests, particularly from high profile media, who often have same-day deadlines," said the Environment Canada document. "Media coverage of climate change science, our most high-profile issue, has been reduced by over 80 per cent."
The Harper government's new policy has required senior scientists to get permission before communicating to the press. Because the press is usually working under short term deadlines, this policy practically cuts off a source of information for them. The result - less media coverage of issues like climate change, and less political pressure for action.
This is unacceptable. Scientists must be free to talk about science. The government could put restrictions on what its employees say about policy, but it should not be controlling the flow of information about what is going on in the natural world.
Maybe the politicians on the Conservative side of the House don't understand this principle. Are there any scientists sitting over there at all?
Monday, March 15, 2010
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4 comments:
It is normal for departments to have designated spokespersons rather than having public servants talk to the press.
Yes, L, but it's one thing to talk about what the department is thinking or doing (and appropriate to designate spokespersons for that purpose), and quite another to answer factual questions about our understanding of the natural world.
So, are you saying that you think any reporter should be allowed to seek out and speak to any civil servant, and the civil servants should be free to discuss any aspect of government policy that they choose? How would that work? How would it work in a private corporation..should employees be allowed to discuss private company business, then?
Fred from BC,
It seems that you have managed to understand exactly the opposite of what I am saying. While it is appropriate to appoint a spokesperson to say, "We are thinking of raising taxes", it is not appropriate to do so to say, "There are 12 species of fish living in this river". It is important to distinguish between policy and science.
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