Assignment:
1. This quote comes from Eugene Skolnikoff in a piece published in the journal Environment called "The Role of Science in Policy" where Skolnikoff was discussing the American public's response to the idea that humans are causing the planet to heat up by burning fossil fuels (Global Warming).
To what extent do you agree with the following quote? If you agree, to what political and economic forces do you think he refers to?
• "Although much of the controversy (regarding climate change) appears to revolve around scientific principles, political and economic forces actually dominate"
2. Do you agree with this quote from Skolnikoff? Can you think of any examples?
• "Challenging science is most effective because most of the public cannot judge the attacks critically and thus can be easily misled or confused. As a result, disagreements among scientists are amplified and the science itself appears more uncertain ..."
3. To what extent do you agree with the following Skolnikoff quote and what examples can you put forward to illustrate your point? "The way the media presents an issue is at least as important to public attitudes as scientific evidence and economic analyses."
4. What about you? Do you choose balanced news reporting, or do you tend to go to one source or one type (leaning a particular direction, usually left or right) of source? Why?