Local Journalist Reflects on Challenges of Covering the Environment

Susan Bence covers the environment for WUWM, a public radio station operated by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She talked about her work with Alexis Lonzo, a student in JAMS 660 Environment and the Media.

Alexis Lonzo: Can you give me an overview of your thoughts on how the environment has been addressed in political settings?

Susan Bence: I think it’s another divisive topic in our society. And therefore, you know, I think we’re thinking a lot about our coverage of the environment going into the November election in particular. It’s beginning to feel more and more critical that we try to raise the issues. So, I think that, in general, here in Milwaukee, for example, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I think, does a good job of digging into environmental issues. We do our best as the station to do so as well. But as you know, issues are just immense and complicated. So, for our news team, all of us as journalists on the team, confer with our news director on a daily basis, and then talk about big stories, and think about what we should try to help inform people about what’s going on with the environment. And it’s a, it’s a juggle, I think it’s not that we are concerned about covering it, it’s going as deeply into it as possible, while still holding on to people’s attention. And also, not saying, okay, this is the right or the wrong decision. It’s hard to keep a balance when issues are so complicated and controversial.

Q: What changes would you like to see made within these discussions?

A: Something that we again, are talking more and more about at WUWM is to try to expand the conversation. So, in general, we always try to reach out and bring in a more diverse audience, not just for the, you know, health of the station, but to have those conversations that are so necessary, not just saying, okay, I disagree. I either think climate change is not that important, or we as humans don’t have the responsibility, this has just happened. So, what I think is important is to widen the conversation and try to bring more voices in both listening and sort of distilling and see if there’s areas of that, that we can agree upon them in that way and bring some action.

Q: In your experience reporting and interviewing on the topic of the mild winter we have had this year, have citizens been concerned about what this means in terms of climate change?

A: Yes, definitely. I think that, you know, we talked about El Niño and the influences that add to the maybe, the extremes of our weather, but in general, I think that the people that we hear from that, hear our stories, think that this is a real situation. That it’s not just an anomaly.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about how the weather shift has impacted farmers?

A: Well, I’ve talked to a number of farmers over time, and what I hear a lot is that farmers are of anybody, they’re working, sort of with their piece of nature with the land, on an ongoing basis, so they’re used to accommodating but I do think that there’s more and more conversation and action taking place about you know, how should crops be planted, what crops should be planted? Should there be cover crops so that it helps to keep the soil in place? There’s a lot of what can we do? What must we do? Because it’s their livelihood for one thing, and a lot of farmers who are still farming, want to continue that practice. I think that that’s an area in which we also, going back to your previous question, could initiate more conversation whether people are farming or not, those are people who are working the land on a regular basis and are seeing impacts.

Q: I saw that you did a few stories interviewing people from the Ho Chunk Nation and was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about what the members are doing to protect the environment for future generations?

A: I think that the more I just spent time with a few people in the Menominee Nation, and this the deep sense that I have is that, as you said, these are the people whose people have been here much longer than any other culture. So that sense of thinking of not just the next but the, you know, generations to come is, is something that’s very, it’s part of their being. It’s I think that again, in terms of communication, I think that Western, if we’re going to use that term for this sort of the rest of us, have so much to learn, but that it’s also from those cultures. But I think there’s a level of trust that has to be established, I think it exists in some some places, but I think there’s real richness and wisdom to be learned from the Ho Chunk and other tribes of the Wisconsin in the Midwest. So, I think the other, I am no expert at this, but I mean, I think that many tribes are struggling as other parts of society are, there’s so many influences and pressures on, especially when you’re looking at, again, these cultures that go back for centuries, and maintaining the integrity of that tradition. But also, are our kids are able to go to school, are they getting enough to eat today? You know, what are the stresses within their communities and their families that I think put a real strain on the ability to continue those traditions. I think that however, it’s really, again, something that all of us can learn from, and think about how was it that that people centuries ago, who are part of these nation’s history, we’re working with the natural resources and not just consuming and then just moving aside there’s always this level of taking what you need and making sure that you haven’t created damage or harm as a result of it, you know, that real balance of nature in our human life. So, I think it’s a profoundly moving and important part of our world.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the impacts of road salt on the environment, specifically in Wisconsin.

A: It’s bad and it accumulates. So, in other words, I was I was talking to somebody earlier in the winter when salting had just occurred. And there was snow and ice to contend with. And it’s a big problem because, I think, a simplistic but useful way to look at it is that in our society in general, like in the metropolitan area, where you if you’re driving or you take the bus you’re used to generally getting where you want to go, like 15 minutes or whatever your commute might be and that means that we’re used to having our roads clear. So, if we were to modify that mindset and say, okay, we have gotten this snowstorm, we don’t want to use salt because it ends up in our waterways, it impacts life in the rivers and the streams, it makes its way into groundwater. It’s just a nasty business for our environment. There are places that are adjusting their modes of treating the roads before a storm is anticipated. But it remains a big problem. I mean, the Milwaukee River Keeper is one of the organizations in this region that monitors the quality of our of all of the rivers that feed into Lake Michigan and road salt remains a big issue.

Q: Are there any alternatives for the road salt that are better for the environment?

A: I don’t know, the very latest on that. But there’s a brine, a combination of actually brine meaning from, like, from the cheese production process that can be used. So, I think there are modifications to that and there’s some places where only main roadways might be salted, that have to be, those that are important to be cleared. So, I think even in Milwaukee area, you do see a difference in the amount of salt that’s here, the road salt that’s used, but again, you know, it remains a major issue.

Q: What are your thoughts on other local media coverage of environmental issues, other than your organization?

A: You know, I being really honest, I don’t spend time cruising around but I mentioned the Journal Sentinel, and I think they do a great job. I think that if I’m going to generalize, which is not a fair thing to do, but if I think in general media, sort of talking about a crisis when it occurs, but then setting that aside, or approaching it as a crisis versus trying to look at the issue as something that’s probably not going to go away, why is that the case? What are scientists and depending on? Who is, you know, contending with the issue? You know, what are they doing, what are they looking at as for solutions? And what would it take? I think that, you know, our station as well was looking at ways what, what are we? How are we serving the audience in the stories that we tell or that we share? So, I would say in general, environmental, you know, a grunt sort of a broad stroke, there’s not a great deal of thoughtful, ongoing environmental reporting. It’s hard to do, though.

Q: What would be the one thing you would want people to know about climate change or the environment issues in general?

A: You know, I really think that there are so many strategies in terms of, we know about shifting to renewable from fossil fuel energy is key is going to be critical for the future. I think that the main thought that I have is that, every action is important. Informed action is important. In other words, talking, whether it’s within your class, or your community or your neighborhood, what are ways that we can, as you know, sort of consolidate our efforts, but especially with elections coming up that are important to our country. I think pushing people that we are voting for, to let us know as voters, where they stand on environmental issues, how they categorize, how they would rank, what needs to be done, and then holding people accountable. This is getting this personal and I’m not speaking for the station, but thinking about what we purchased and how our dollars talk. And so, if we feel as though there’s better practices than others, you know, we sort of vote through the way that we spend our money. I think that that is compelling and then, you know, holding elected officials to if they’re if they’re not promising to do something, then why aren’t they, shouldn’t they be you know, pressing for that action from the people we elect?