DeSmog: Difference between revisions
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Contributors to the site assist in outing organizations that the site's staff believe are phony [[grassroots]] organizations or [[astroturfing|astroturf]] groups sponsored directly or indirectly by industries seeking to thwart climate change-related legislation. Organizations alleged by the blog to be astroturfs include [[Friends of Science]], [[Natural Resources Stewardship Project]], [[Global Climate Coalition]], and [[International Climate Science Coalition]].<ref name="Littlemore2008a"/> Individuals that the site has identified as pushing an anti-climate change point of view are listed in the site's "Denial Database", with accompanying information about their industry affiliations and professional biographies.<ref name="Darah2007"/> |
Contributors to the site assist in outing organizations that the site's staff believe are phony [[grassroots]] organizations or [[astroturfing|astroturf]] groups sponsored directly or indirectly by industries seeking to thwart climate change-related legislation. Organizations alleged by the blog to be astroturfs include [[Friends of Science]], [[Natural Resources Stewardship Project]], [[Global Climate Coalition]], and [[International Climate Science Coalition]].<ref name="Littlemore2008a"/> Individuals that the site has identified as pushing an anti-climate change point of view are listed in the site's "Denial Database", with accompanying information about their industry affiliations and professional biographies.<ref name="Darah2007"/> |
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In one instance, the blog responded to a 2006 open letter opposing the Canadian Government's climate-change plans, claimed to be signed by "accredited experts in climate and related scientific disciplines", by analyzing the list of the signatories and finding that those checked had few peer-reviewed publications on the topic and some had fossil fuel industry connections.<ref name="Gorrie2007"/> |
In one instance, the blog responded to a 2006 open letter opposing the Canadian Government's climate-change plans, claimed to be signed by "accredited experts in climate and related scientific disciplines", by analyzing the list of the signatories and finding that those checked had few peer-reviewed publications on the topic and stating that some had fossil fuel industry connections.<ref name="Gorrie2007"/> |
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Around February 2007, Hoggan posted comments on the blog about a [[CBC Television]] documentary called "The Denial Machine." ''[[National Post]]'' columnist Terry Corcoran responded to Hoggan's remarks, saying, "Here's a totally unqualified small-town PR guy making disparaging comments about scientists he says are unqualified while he lectures the rest of us on the science."<ref name="Darah2007"/> The conservative journalist Corcoran had previously been castigated by Hoggan's site as "the king of Canadian climate change deniers".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.desmogblog.com/terry-corcoran-king-of-canadian-climate-change-deniers |title=Richard Littlemore | Terry Corcoran: King of Canadian Climate Change Deniers |publisher=www.desmogblog.com |accessdate=2010-03-19 }}</ref> |
Around February 2007, Hoggan posted comments on the blog about a [[CBC Television]] documentary called "The Denial Machine." ''[[National Post]]'' columnist Terry Corcoran responded to Hoggan's remarks, saying, "Here's a totally unqualified small-town PR guy making disparaging comments about scientists he says are unqualified while he lectures the rest of us on the science."<ref name="Darah2007"/> The conservative journalist Corcoran had previously been castigated by Hoggan's site as "the king of Canadian climate change deniers".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.desmogblog.com/terry-corcoran-king-of-canadian-climate-change-deniers |title=Richard Littlemore | Terry Corcoran: King of Canadian Climate Change Deniers |publisher=www.desmogblog.com |accessdate=2010-03-19 }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 10:21, 20 March 2010
Type of site | blog |
|---|---|
| Created by | James Hoggan |
| URL | http://www.desmogblog.com |
The DeSmogBlog, founded in January 2006, is a blog that focuses on topics related to global warming. The site describes itself as "the world's number one source for accurate, fact based information regarding Global Warming misinformation campaigns."[1] DeSmogBlog is a non-profit organisation which opposes what it describes as "a well-funded and highly organized public relations campaign" that it claims was "poisoning" the climate change debate.[2] The site is owned and operated by Jim Hoggan, president of a public relations firm based in Vancouver, Canada. The blog was recognized in December 2007 with an award by a trade organization for its standards and content.
Content
The blog was founded by James Hoggan, president of his own well-estabished public relations firm. In a February 2007 interview with the Vancouver Sun, he described his anger at what he saw as repeated misinformation being put out on behalf of industry interests to mislead the public about the scientific understanding of global warming caused by human activity, which he referred to as "public relations at its sleaziest". The site had been launched using his own expertise in marketing to "clear the PR pollution that clouds the science of climate change" and to expose organizations and individuals which he considered to be unethical. DeSmogBlog carries several different types of media related to climate change issues, including articles from media outlets, opinion columns, scientific reports, videos, and advice on being environmentally friendly.[3] The site originally targeted a Canadian audience.[4]
Contributors to the site assist in outing organizations that the site's staff believe are phony grassroots organizations or astroturf groups sponsored directly or indirectly by industries seeking to thwart climate change-related legislation. Organizations alleged by the blog to be astroturfs include Friends of Science, Natural Resources Stewardship Project, Global Climate Coalition, and International Climate Science Coalition.[5] Individuals that the site has identified as pushing an anti-climate change point of view are listed in the site's "Denial Database", with accompanying information about their industry affiliations and professional biographies.[3]
In one instance, the blog responded to a 2006 open letter opposing the Canadian Government's climate-change plans, claimed to be signed by "accredited experts in climate and related scientific disciplines", by analyzing the list of the signatories and finding that those checked had few peer-reviewed publications on the topic and stating that some had fossil fuel industry connections.[2]
Around February 2007, Hoggan posted comments on the blog about a CBC Television documentary called "The Denial Machine." National Post columnist Terry Corcoran responded to Hoggan's remarks, saying, "Here's a totally unqualified small-town PR guy making disparaging comments about scientists he says are unqualified while he lectures the rest of us on the science."[3] The conservative journalist Corcoran had previously been castigated by Hoggan's site as "the king of Canadian climate change deniers".[6]
The blog is regularly referenced in The Guardian by George Monbiot, who most recently cited a study by the website showing that in 2008 "the number of internet pages proposing that man-made global warming is a hoax or a lie more than doubled".[7] In another column, Monbiot noted that DeSmogBlog posted a video critical of Anthony Watts's blog Watts Up With That that Watts had deleted from YouTube for copyright reasons.[8] Monbiot has also mentioned DeSmogBlog's efforts to expose efforts by oil, coal, and electricity companies to manipulate media views on climate change.[9]
Owner and staff
The site's founder and owner, James Hoggan, is President of the Vancouver-based public relations firm James Hoggan & Associates, chair of the David Suzuki Foundation, a trustee of the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, and an executive member of the Urban Development Institute. He is the author of the book Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming, which criticizes global warming skepticism.[10][3]
The website names John Lefebvre as a benefactor. Frequent contributors to the blog include Ross Gelbspan and Richard Littlemore. Littlemore is a science writer who formerly worked for the Vancouver Sun. The site's project manager is Kevin Grandia, a former aid to Raymond Chan.[1][3]
Awards
The site was recognized in December 2007 by three British Columbia chapters of the Canadian Public Relations Society, the Vancouver, Victoria (CPRS-vi) and Northern Lights in Prince George, with an award for demonstrating "The highest ethical and professional standards while performing outstanding work". In a CPRS press release which accompanied the award, Hoggan stated that the site had been viewed by 520,000 people over its history, had been cited as a source by 24 media outlets, and mentioned in more than 4,500 other blogs. According to the press release, the blog was selected for the award by a panel of journalists and public relations professionals in Victoria, Vancouver, and Prince George.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Who we Are". DeSmogBlog.com. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ a b Gorrie, Peter (January 28, 2007). "Who's still cool on global warming?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ a b c d e Hansen, Darah (February 17, 2007). "One man's green PR battle". Vancouver: Vancouver Sun. p. L.17. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ Hoggan, Jim (December 5, 2005). "www.DeSmogBlog.com - Blowing off the PR pollution that clouds climate science". CNW Group.
{{cite news}}:|format=requires|url=(help) - ^ Littlemore, Richard (March 31, 2008). "A rail journey in search of Al Gore". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ "Richard Littlemore". www.desmogblog.com. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
{{cite web}}: Text "Terry Corcoran: King of Canadian Climate Change Deniers" ignored (help) - ^ Monbiot, George (November 2, 2009). "Clive James isn't a climate change sceptic, he's a sucker - but this may be the reason" (Opinion column). The Guardian.
- ^ Monbiot, George (July 30, 2009). "Climate change deniers claim they're censored. What hypocrites" (Opinion column). The Guardian.
- ^ Monbiot, George (July 8, 2009). "Climate denial 'astroturfers' should stop hiding behind pseudonyms online" (Opinion column). The Guardian.
- ^ "James Hoggan & Associates Inc.: Media Advisory" (Press release). Marketwire. October 28, 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ^ "Canadian Public Relations Society names three PR campaigns as award winners" (Press release). Ottawa: Canada NewsWire. December 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-09.