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Join TSPR for a weekly conversation about media issues. News Director Rich Egger and expert panelists discuss what’s in the news about the news business.

News Outlets Overlook Significant Story

A story in Columbia Journalism Reviewtakes the media to task for failing to do enough reporting on climate change.  The story said most of the major network newscasts and shows on CNN and MSNBC neglected to do a story on the United Nations Environment Program's annual assessment of greenhouse gas emissions.

The UNEP described its own findings as bleak.

Writer Jon Allsop wondered what could have been more important than this report, which he said has global implications. He did give credit to some organizations, including NPR, for reporting on the findings.

The Shop Talk panelists said the UNEP report deals with issues that should matter to people and journalists should have done more with it.

But they also feel many people have made up their minds about climate change and might dismiss reporting on the topic. The panelists said people ultimately will get the journalism they deserve.

Shop Talk is a weekly panel discussion about journalism issues.  This week’s program featured Will Buss, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University and advises the student editors at the Western Courier, the students at student radio station The Dog, and the WIU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; Rajvee Subramanian, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University; and TSPR News Director Rich Egger.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.