More (Better?) new sources

ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC are all networks that carry mainstream news. Without going into the flaws each of these possess, suffice it to say that they may not be the best news channels for viewers to seek out science and environmental news.

So what channels are? That’s a difficult question to answer because you first have to define what is meant by the word “best.” That’s a superlative adjective that can carry a different meaning to different people.

A question I like to pose to people is how do you think non-profit news channels differ in their news coverage compared to for-profit news channels. The aforementioned news channels above are for-profit. Understand that their number one objective is to make money. That makes them no different than companies like Amazon, IBM, Exxon Mobil. They all go about it in different ways, but at the end of the day, the most important decisions made by leaders of for-profit companies center around profit…period.

Non-profits operate differently. So do their agendas. So can you expect non-profits to be better at delivering news? Again, you first have to decide what you mean by the word “better.” One thing non-profits often do that others don’t is target a more specific audience because they target specific subjects. Side Note: All news sites have an agenda. I’ll discuss that and Agenda Setting theory in another post.

For example, if you want news about the environment, you might specifically seek a news source that focuses on environmental and science issues. One of my favorites is the non-profit Mongabay, whose tagline is News & Inspiration from Nature’s Frontline. I encourage you to check them out.