Dear students,
FYI, please find an  article written by Angharad Law (our JMSC faculty member) about Cosima Dannoritzer’s recent talk in our class:

http://jmsc.hku.hk/2012/09/attitudes-environmental-documentaries-changing/
Best,
Miklos

Dear students,

as we discussed in class, HKU’s Sustanability Manager Ann Kildahl asked our class to help with ideas and suggestions the launch of the “green newsletter” of the HKU Sustainability Office (SO). I think this presents a good opportunity for experiential learning in the area of environmental communication. We will have a brainstorming session  with Ann and her colleague Joy Lam in the second part of our class next Thursday (Sep 27) from 11 AM.

As discussed in class, please search for and review some existing newsletters published by universities and NGOs in your homr country and top global universities, and bring to class your suggestions and “best practices”.

Here is some food for thought: what is your vision, what would be the purpose of this newsletter? Who should be the target audience? How often would you suggest to send it out? (The SO will have funding for a part time editor.) Should it be published online only, or also in print? How should it relate to the SO website and Facebook page?

Please make suggestions in your dual capacity as journalists/communication experts and HKU students.

Best,
Miklos

Dear students,

as we discussed in class, please read the social impact evaluation of “The End of the LIne”: http://britdoc.org/real_good/evaluation

Please prepare suggestions on how to build an analytical framework for the analysis of the many types of social impact of ANY environmental documentary, and how to build successful environmental campaigns around such documentaries..

Also, as discussed, please write your movie journal 2 about “The Light Bulb Conspiracy”. Your ideas may be discussed with the director on Thursday. The journal may be personal, and the length is up to 2 pages (single space) by popular demand. I am doing my best to send you feedback on the first movie journal (I am at a conference abroad until Tueasday). I can give you feedback on Tuesday latest; feel free to send the journal till Thursday morning before the class. 

Best regards,

Miklos

Dear students,

next Thursday (Sept 20) in the second part of our Environmental Communication class, we will have Cosima Dannoritzer, a German television producer and documentary film director, as guest speaker. She directed the great business history and environmental documentary “The Light Bulb Conspiracy”, and several other films. Please see the film’s trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=251qoGOqpdk

Most of you already saw her film at the screening last week. Those who have not seen it yet, please watch it online (it is available on the net).

This week (September 13), in the first part of our class 9:30-10:50, I will give a presentation about “the environmental performance of the media”.

In the second part of the class, we will discuss Brown’s review of environmental problems of the 21^st century (“Challenges of the New Century”. In: State of the World 2000: A Worldwatch Institute Report) and Global Trends 2015: A Transformed World.

We will also discuss the documentary about overfishing, “The End of the Line”, and your experiences in writing the first film journal.

Thank you. Best,

Miklos

Film journal 1: The End of the Line (2009)

As we discussed it in class, please watch the environmental documentary about overfishing, The End of the Line (2009) and write a brief movie journal. You may use the framework (or some of its elements) below.

Environmental issues, frames, and action

• How does this film relate to the environment? What are the issues it covers? How are these issues interrelated?
• What frames or concepts does the film use or imply regarding the environment? Be specific abut the frames used by the scientist sources and other economic, political, cultural, national, international legal, justice, or other frames.
• Is there any scientific evidence (data, sources) or concepts presented in the movies?
• Is politics involved in the films in any way?
• Are the issues important, why should we care?
• Does this film tell viewers and other stakeholders what they can do regarding sustainability?
• Does these film advocate individual or collective/systemic solutions?

Aesthetic and professional value

• Explain the genre of the film. How are protagonists, interviews with scientists, documentary footage, investigation, and other approaches used?
• What do you think about directing, acting, camera work, cuts/editing, music?
• What is the artistic/aesthetic value of this film?

Conclusions

• In your view, is this a good film? Why; or why not?
• Could this film be used in environmental awareness-raising? If yes, how?
• Any critical or other points?
• Explain your evaluation criteria, and give a grade (between A and F) to this movie.

Format and submission of movie journal

Please write a ca. 1 page long movie journal addressing some of the questions above. (Use single space, 12 letter size, in a Word document.) Please do not copy the questions to the review.

Please send your journal to me at the environmentalcommunication2012@gmail.com address. I created this email address as a mailbox for assignment submission.

Submission deadline: Wednesday, September 12, 4:00 PM, 2012.

I put the film on reserve for you in the Library (first floor, AV collection), so you may watch it there. I had a great experience watching the movie in the library: there are great, sharp underwater images, and the earphones give perfect sound quality.

Have a good weekend and enjoy the film!

Best,

Miklos  

2. Environmental problems in the 21^st century

What are the most pressing environmental problems today? The portrayal of environmental issues in the media: global warming, soil, water and air pollution, the mass extinction of species, water scarcity, overfishing. How can the media shape perceptions, public opinion and impact government policy on the environment? The changing issues in environmental journalism and the visibility of environmental problems in the media. How can different environmental problems be represented in the media? Communication principles in the coverage of environmental issues: media framing, agenda setting, campaigns, newsworthiness, news construction, and media events. How can journalists use scientific evidence; risk analysis; and emotional framing? And how can they show what audiences can DO?

Readings:

Brown, Lester R. 2000. Challenges of the New Century. In: State of the World 2000: A Worldwatch Institute Report.New York: W. W. Norton and Company, pp. 3-21. 1. State of the World 21st Century

Chapter 4 “Scarcity in the Mids of Plenty”) in Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World

http://www.aicpa.org/research/cpahorizons2025/globalforces/downloadabledocuments/globaltrends.pdf

Executive summary of the whole report:

http://www.acus.org/publication/global-trends-2025-transformed-world

Recommended readings: Chapters 2 (“Demographics of Discord”), 3 (“The New Players”), and 4 “Scarcity in the Mids of Plenty”) in Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World

Question for discussion:

“Was Brown right?” In 2000, Lester Brown made forecasts for the 21^st century about the most critical environmental issues. What can we say more than a decade later—were his forecasts right? Or perhaps the situation is better or worse than he forecasted?