[Coral-List] Media hyperbole in Coral Science

[Coral Morphologic]

It's important to point out that the stories in popular media about coral
reefs aren't always effusively positive or uplifting. Far from it.
Remember the misleading 'The Great Barrier Reef is Pronounced Dead' stories
from a few years ago? In my opinion it was not exactly helpful, and it
seems the outcome was that just as many people tuned out/stopped caring, as
the there were people who stepped up to care more. It was such a misleading
headline that there is an entire Snopes entry on this story that they
labelled 'false'.  While it seems that people are gravitating towards the
positive right now, we could also be having the same conversation from the
perspective of 'doom/drama sells'. This negative pathos is typically the
way media prioritizes and frames its top stories. We aren't always going to
be happy with the way a reporter relays the story from the mouth of a
scientist. But it is a shame that we scientists spend so much time and
effort looking inward at ourselves and trying to find who to blame when the
importance of a 'feel good story' is overstated. Running the Coral City
Camera from PortMiami is a perfect example of an environmental story that
could be framed positively or negatively depending on the journalist's
angle. It is so much on the razor's edge between positive and negative that
it in many ways it is just easier to just overlook entirely.

Our dear leader has made attacking the media central to his populist
message to a potentially dangerous degree. Everyone claims #fakenews now,
and as a result lots of people no longer trust these media outlets. I agree
that the media, (which, lest we forget, is a really just a vehicle to sell
advertising) doesn't always get the story right. But we should be careful
to not place blame on the people interviewed as to the shortcomings of the
story as it ends up presented. So while I agree that criticism of media is
warranted, and corrections/follow-ups are important, until there's a new
media revolution for direct scientific communication with the public,
mainstream outlets are still the best avenue we have to reach the hearts
and minds of the people to inform them of the best and worst developments
in the health of coral reefs globally. Kudos to every coral scientist who
has dedicated their lives to bringing more corals into the world and
understanding that returning the reefs to glory is an all-hands-on-deck
affair that requires environmental action at the local, national, and
international level. We can work to fight global warming AND advance coral
reproduction success at the same time! They are definitely not mutually
exclusive goals.

Cheers,
Colin
Coral Morphlogic <http://www.coralmorphologic.com>
Coral City Camera  <http://www.coralcitycamera.com>