Newspapers and conservation

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 18

Newspapers and conservation

Newspapers were extremely valuable allies of environmental and conservation groups, but the attitudes of the press and these groups towards each other could be reexamined for their mutual benefit, Mr W. James, reader in journalism at the University of Canterbury, said on Tuesday evening.

; with information from en- ■ vironmentalists. - Mr James suggested that > it would be of great value i for a newspaper to have an [environmental correspondent , capable enough to present - the issues and represent in- . terests in a better way than ; the organisations themselves. To do this would not be a sacrifice on the newspapers’ [part, because they would ; merely be saving the time of other staff of the newspaper.

Mr James told a meeting of the Environmental Vanguard Organisation, that environmental groups tended to i spread themselves over too 'many objectives and tasks. Such groups should draw I up a “battle line.” They [should definitely decide !which environmental battles could be won — “not all can be”—and work for these objectives. “The more expert opinion; you can muster on these ■ issues the better,” Mr James said. This tended to raise the! group’s status in the eyes ofa newspaper and of the public. Support for issues could be attracted .by maintaining the i difficult balance between a; sensitive, scholarly approach,; mixed with common sense. Mr James said newspapers were the great initiators and developers of issues, but just as newspapers supplied environmentalists with information so it was proper for newspapers to be supplied

School survey.—The Canterbury School Committees’ Association last evening decided to conduct a survey, asking Hornby parents whether they want a new secondary school in the district to be co-educational. Parents of children at schools which would contribute pupils to the new l school will be included in the survey.