E&E On Point: Reporters say what they mean when it comes to DC politics and climate change
The big network weekend talking-heads-with-journalists-in-the-chairs TV programs don’t, as far as I know, often focus on the fine details of covering climate related environmental journalism. An outfit that specializes in such news, Energy and Environment Publishing, does have its own on line talk-among-reporters program. Most of its expert newsletters are for subscribers only, but here’s a glimpse of its expertise out in the open, with transcript, via Q & A with reporters Darren Samuelson and Alex Kaplun.
Two things one might take away from this. First, a bit more about the obstacles facing Congress’s ability to do a whole lot about carbon emissions and climate change in this session. This pair has sensible things to say. Second, a reason why reporters should pay heed to how they themselves would do as sources and perhaps retain thereby some empathy while seeking others’ quotes. One of the unwriteable laws of journalism – unwriteable because there’s no way to sensibly codify this judgment call – concerns the reporter’s usual duty to help people out with their quotes. If a reasonably literate and informed person mangles syntax, spouts banalities, or otherwise makes a hash of the language while speaking off the cuff, it usually is best to give him or her a break. In fact, even if the source isn’t so literate, it’s generally best to be kind. Unless quirks of expression are the topic or necessary for a profile, select quotes that get the message across without too much distraction due to the verbiage itself.
I mean, next time these reporters sit down to talk out loud in public they might, I mean, think about their tics and try to suppress’em. I mean, three “I means” in a row is a lot of I meanses. And there are more than that. When one reads such as this as reflecting what came from one’s own mouth, one likely will resolve to cut it out next time, and mean it.
None of that should be taken as singling these two fellows out as careless users of language. They know their stuff, express it clearly, and sound perfectly all right on the audio file. The point is merely to choose reporters themselves as examples why one ought to be prudent and even civil while deciding which parts of a quote to quote and which to paraphrase.
- Charlie Petit
