| |
 |
| Paper: |
Guidelines for Talking to the Press About Dark Skies |
| Volume: |
537, ASP 2022: A Virtual Conference |
| Page: |
130 |
| Authors: |
Turnshek, D. |
| Abstract: |
Talking to reporters is a specialized skill not generally taught to astronomers. When Pittsburgh enacted Dark Sky Ordinances in 2021, I had the opportunity to speak to dozens of reporters about dark sky issues. It was like being thrown in the deep end to learn how to swim. The number of subscribers to the media outlets carrying my message currently totals to 1.2 billion. Light pollution is a nuanced scientific concept, with many possibilities for misinterpretation by laypeople. The very human urge to not repeat the same message over and over plays against a successful media session. Journalists and reporters have systems in place to find the most controversial part of what is said to air. Words and phrases that mean one thing to scientists can mean quite a different thing to the general public (the word “error” is an example). Over 80% of the people in the United States live in cities where the Milky Way and a star-filled sky cannot be seen. It is a difficult skill to describe the significance of something when there is no familiarity with it, but “Why is this important?” is a standard question asked. A plan of action for talking to the media about dark skies is presented, highlighting potential pitfalls and giving workarounds to the avoid most common misinterpretations. |
|
|
|
|
|
