Event Title
Pipelines and Prairie Protest: How Great Plains Environmentalists Win Hearts and Minds and Change the Media Narrative
Description
Derek Moscato, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Public Relations at Western Washington University, gave a talk entitled “Pipelines and Prairie Protest: How Great Plains Environmentalists Win Hearts and Minds and Change the Media Narrative,” at Western Washington University from 4:00-5:00pm on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the Western Libraries Reading Room (Wilson Library 4th floor Central).
During his talk, Moscato explored the role of specific communication and media tactics in evolving an organization’s metanarrative as it toggles between short- and long-term goals. He also explored civic environmental persuasion built upon the attributes of narrative, hyperlocalization, engagement, and bipartisanship in order to build broad support and influence public policy.
Moscato’s research focuses on the use of communication and publicity strategies within contemporary environmental activism. In particular, he draws from the ongoing case of Bold Nebraska, a grassroots advocacy group that has opposed the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL petroleum pipeline in the state of Nebraska since 2008. Such an analysis of activist communication informs several areas of research, including media and public relations, social movement organizations, and environmental communication.
To understand the successful construction of green communication within such activism, his research draws from social movement framing, media framing, and rhetorical strategies. This approach provides a holistic means to understanding the strategic construction of environmental appeals and the interplay of social movement organizations, public relations, and persuasion. This study also considers the dynamic of populism in environmental activism.
Derek Moscato earned his Ph.D. at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. His dissertation was recipient of the school’s 2017 Outstanding Dissertation Award. This talk was offered as part of the Western Libraries Reading Series, which is dedicated to showcasing the scholarly and creative work of faculty and staff who are engaged in research, writing, and teaching at Western. For more information about this event, please contact Jenny Oleen, at (360) 650-2613, or via email: Jenny.Oleen@wwu.edu.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
17-10-2018 4:00 PM
End Date
17-10-2018 5:00 PM
Location
Western Libraries, Wilson Library Reading Room
Title of Series
Western Libraries Reading Series
Genre/Form
lectures
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Mass media and the environment; Green movement; Press--Influence
Poster
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
Great Plains environmentalists, Media narrative, Environmental activism, Environmental communication
Pipelines and Prairie Protest: How Great Plains Environmentalists Win Hearts and Minds and Change the Media Narrative
Western Libraries, Wilson Library Reading Room
Derek Moscato, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Public Relations at Western Washington University, gave a talk entitled “Pipelines and Prairie Protest: How Great Plains Environmentalists Win Hearts and Minds and Change the Media Narrative,” at Western Washington University from 4:00-5:00pm on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the Western Libraries Reading Room (Wilson Library 4th floor Central).
During his talk, Moscato explored the role of specific communication and media tactics in evolving an organization’s metanarrative as it toggles between short- and long-term goals. He also explored civic environmental persuasion built upon the attributes of narrative, hyperlocalization, engagement, and bipartisanship in order to build broad support and influence public policy.
Moscato’s research focuses on the use of communication and publicity strategies within contemporary environmental activism. In particular, he draws from the ongoing case of Bold Nebraska, a grassroots advocacy group that has opposed the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL petroleum pipeline in the state of Nebraska since 2008. Such an analysis of activist communication informs several areas of research, including media and public relations, social movement organizations, and environmental communication.
To understand the successful construction of green communication within such activism, his research draws from social movement framing, media framing, and rhetorical strategies. This approach provides a holistic means to understanding the strategic construction of environmental appeals and the interplay of social movement organizations, public relations, and persuasion. This study also considers the dynamic of populism in environmental activism.
Derek Moscato earned his Ph.D. at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. His dissertation was recipient of the school’s 2017 Outstanding Dissertation Award. This talk was offered as part of the Western Libraries Reading Series, which is dedicated to showcasing the scholarly and creative work of faculty and staff who are engaged in research, writing, and teaching at Western. For more information about this event, please contact Jenny Oleen, at (360) 650-2613, or via email: Jenny.Oleen@wwu.edu.