An Evaluation of Media Coverage of Wildfire Issues

An Evaluation of Media An Evaluation of Media Coverage of Wildfire Coverage of Wildfire

IssuesIssues

This project supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Opinions This project supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

National Park Service

Student views on wildfireStudent views on wildfire

A major wildfire has just occurred on a national forest in the A major wildfire has just occurred on a national forest in the western western

United States during a particularly dry, warm period in the summer.United States during a particularly dry, warm period in the summer.Despite a major fire fighting effort by the Forest Service, the fire Despite a major fire fighting effort by the Forest Service, the fire

burnedburnedfor several weeks consuming thousands of acres of forests and for several weeks consuming thousands of acres of forests and endangering human structures and lives.endangering human structures and lives.

Do you consider wildfires like this a “completely natural event” or Do you consider wildfires like this a “completely natural event” or something else?something else?

What short-term impacts do you expect the wildfire to have on What short-term impacts do you expect the wildfire to have on soils, wildlife, and streams? What about long-term impacts?soils, wildlife, and streams? What about long-term impacts?

Should wildfires that do not endanger any human structures be Should wildfires that do not endanger any human structures be allowed to “burn themselves out” or should we actively fight allowed to “burn themselves out” or should we actively fight them with all available resources?them with all available resources?

What should be done to restore the forest after the fire?What should be done to restore the forest after the fire?

Student Student Preconceptions Preconceptions

Concerning WildfireConcerning Wildfire1.1. All fire is inherently “bad” and should be All fire is inherently “bad” and should be

suppressed.suppressed.2.2. Catastrophic fires are the result of too much fuel.Catastrophic fires are the result of too much fuel.3.3. The ecological role of fire is mimicked by logging.The ecological role of fire is mimicked by logging.4.4. Large fires can be stopped.Large fires can be stopped.5.5. Fire destroys forests and wildlife.Fire destroys forests and wildlife.6.6. Fire sterilizes the land.Fire sterilizes the land.7.7. Salvage logging after a fire is necessary to restore Salvage logging after a fire is necessary to restore

forests. forests. 8.8. Prescribed burning is an adequate substitute for Prescribed burning is an adequate substitute for

wildfire.wildfire.

An Evaluation of Media An Evaluation of Media Coverage of Forest Coverage of Forest FiresFires

USDA Forest Service Public Service Message

1940

The Evolution of The Evolution of Smokey BearSmokey Bear

1950 1960 1973 2001

USDA Forest Service

Chambers of Chambers of commercecommerce

Pulp and Pulp and paper industrypaper industry

Wood products associationWood products association

Loggers associationLoggers association

US Conservation

Sierra ClubSierra Club

Wilderness Wilderness SocietySociety

NETNET

ONRCONRC

Sierra Club

““Aspen groves are born of Aspen groves are born of fire, fire, taking hold in areas taking hold in areas after they after they are burned. are burned. The nation’s forests The nation’s forests evolved evolved with fire, and they need with fire, and they need it, it, ecologists say.”ecologists say.”

The Wilderness The Wilderness SocietySociety

Scott T. Smith

Fire HeadlinesFire Headlines

Flames and smoke scar the stateFlames and smoke scar the state

““It’s like fighting a horrible beast”It’s like fighting a horrible beast”

Wildfires raging across the West, abetted by dry Wildfires raging across the West, abetted by dry storms, lightning infernostorms, lightning inferno

Fires ravaging WestFires ravaging West

Giants facing blaze’s wrathGiants facing blaze’s wrath

Nearly 20,000 acres scorched by 2 blazesNearly 20,000 acres scorched by 2 blazes

NCSR

USDA Forest Service: Tahoe National Forest

NCSR

What should we accept as What should we accept as evidence?evidence?

1. Consider the source1. Consider the source Get as close to the original source as possibleGet as close to the original source as possible The Internet as a resourceThe Internet as a resource

2. Consider the type of information used to prepare the 2. Consider the type of information used to prepare the reportreport

OpinionOpinion Single anecdoteSingle anecdote Collection of anecdotesCollection of anecdotes Single peer-reviewed scientific studySingle peer-reviewed scientific study Collection of independent peer-reviewed scientific Collection of independent peer-reviewed scientific

studiesstudies

3. Consider the logic used to connect the claims to the 3. Consider the logic used to connect the claims to the evidenceevidence

4. Beware of bias and hidden agendas 4. Beware of bias and hidden agendas

Bias and Hidden AgendasBias and Hidden Agendas

Bias Bias A mental leaning or inclination, partiality, A mental leaning or inclination, partiality,

prejudiceprejudice Drawing conclusions based on pre-Drawing conclusions based on pre-

conceived notionsconceived notions

An example:An example:

““Hunting and trapping regulations on cougar and Hunting and trapping regulations on cougar and bearbear

should be relaxed because these predators pose a should be relaxed because these predators pose a threat to humans, livestock and game animals.”threat to humans, livestock and game animals.”

Two Different ViewpointsTwo Different Viewpoints

Partnership for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)Partnership for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

““NO!” – This organization supports:NO!” – This organization supports: Animal rightsAnimal rights VegetarianismVegetarianism Anti-hunting and trapping legislationAnti-hunting and trapping legislation

National Rifle Association (NRA)National Rifle Association (NRA)

““YES!” – This organization supports:YES!” – This organization supports: Right to bear armsRight to bear arms Hunter educationHunter education Pro-hunting legislationPro-hunting legislation

Sources of Articles Sources of Articles for Media Activityfor Media Activity

American Lands Alliance American Lands Alliance Capital Press (regional agricultural weekly) Capital Press (regional agricultural weekly) Chambers of CommerceChambers of Commerce Chronicle, Lance IversonChronicle, Lance Iverson Environmental News ServiceEnvironmental News Service Loggers AssociationLoggers Association National Park ServiceNational Park Service NETNET New York TimesNew York Times ONRCONRC Pulp and Paper IndustryPulp and Paper Industry Sierra ClubSierra Club Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon)Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon) USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal Wilderness SocietyWilderness Society Wood Products AssociationWood Products Association

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits

Chronicle, Lance IversonChronicle, Lance Iverson National Park Service National Park Service www.nps.gov NCSRNCSR Scott T. SmithScott T. Smith Sierra ClubSierra Club Statesman JournalStatesman Journal US ConservationUS Conservation USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National

ForestForest