Birdwatcher or Journalist?: Audubon Magazine and the Connections between Environmentalism and Journalism

Event Details

We think of the ideal journalist as a neutral observer of our social world, but this idea has been threatened by the growth of partisan news organizations in recent years. Yet advocacy journalism has existed on the margins for generations. In this talk, Dr. Suzannah Evans Comfort will reveal how the National Audubon Society redeveloped its magazine into a national, award-winning outlet for environmental journalism in the 1960s. Along the way, it challenged conventional rules about journalism and objectivity – and furthered the bird conservation cause. This history lends perspective to current debates about how journalism should function in our society.

This talk is part of the Wabash Valley Audubon Society’s Annual Meeting and is open to members and non-members. There are 2 options for attendance:

• To attend only the talk, it costs $5 at the door (cash or check accepted) and it begins at 7:30pm.
• To attend the talk, plus a catered buffet dinner and silent auction, it costs $25 at the door and it begins at 5:30pm.

For both options, please RSVP by April 11 to Carissa Lovett via email (carissa.lovett@terrehaute.in.gov) or phone (812-877-1095, M-F 9am-5pm).

Suzannah Evans Comfort, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Media School at Indiana University. Her research considers how environmental activists use journalism and other media formats to advance their cause. In addition, she also examines how journalists have covered climate change and how audiences respond to messages about climate change. Prior to joining Indiana University, Comfort worked in ocean conservation and was the co-author of The Perfect Protein: The Fish Lover’s Guide to Saving the Oceans and Feeding the World.