News coverage inevitably entails some bias on the part of the reporter; this is especially true in the coverage of an environmental risk. The article “More pressure for less salt in the Park” written by Mike Lynch was originally posted on March 12, 2010 for Enterprise Outdoors. The article discusses a plan to make “a road map that would highlight ecologically sensitive areas in the Park” which would be used to adjust salt application amounts, types, and methods. The Adirondack Park is located in northern New York State.
The headline of the article states “More pressure for less salt in the Park.” The article does not discuss the use of less salt as much as it discusses the possible use of other materials similar to road salt but not as damaging to the environment, such as magnesium chloride, which is more effective at temperatures below fifteen degrees Fahrenheit.
The news story begins by discussing a study concerning the effects and costs of road de-icing, conducted by the Adirondack Watershed Institute, a program of Paul Smith’s College. The study’s top suggestion was the creation of a road map that noted ecologically sensitive regions in the Park. The article goes on to discuss alternative de-icing substances, and then addresses the financial limitations to these alternatives.
This news article is very recent, having been posted on March 12, 2010. The article is of a medium length, being of about a page and a half in length printed with no photos; it is neither brief nor does it go into depth. The article lacks contextual information about the Adirondack Park, but this is in part because of the audience to which the article is geared. The article was written for Enterprise Outdoors, which is an online news source aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, many of whom are familiar with the Adirondack Park. The article also lacks contextual information regarding the negative effects of road salt on the environment.
The news story begins by citing research conducted by the Adirondack Watershed Institute. The article goes on to cite a professor from Paul Smith’s College who was involved with the research, and then cites Ed Franz, the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve manager for the New York State Department of Transportation, along with Department of Environmental Conservation Spokeswoman Maureen Wren.
This news story features local appeal. Its intended audience is those familiar with the Adirondack Park and the various environmental issues which affect it. The article also takes a practical approach, discussing at some length the monetary restrictions to implementing some of the suggestions from the study because of equipment. The New York State Department of Transportation is portrayed as reluctant to take measures to protect ecologically sensitive areas in the Park. The question of human safety versus environmental safety is an overarching theme within the article.
Mike Lynch slants the article slightly against the New York State Department of Transportation. This is most notable through the use of the quote “"I was kind of surprised that they didn't let us give them some information…It looks like they just pulled stuff from our Web site, and they don't really have a true story about how we do our winter maintenance” by Adirondack Park Forest Preserve manager for the Department of Transportation Ed Franz. The author shows some skepticism as to how much the Department of Transportation is actually doing to try and minimize the effects of winter road maintenance on the ecology of the Adirondack Park, and how much they are making excuses for why certain measures are not feasible.
This article represents the voice of those who are concerned about the ecological health of the Adirondack Park, including locals and outdoor enthusiasts. There are also questions as to the motives of the research which is referred to throughout the article. “The report was released in February and was sponsored by AdkAction.org, whose Water Quality Committee chair is Lee Keet, a Lake Colby shoreowner and member of the Adirondack Council's board of directors. AdkAction.org is a coalition of Saranac Lake area property owners who originally banded together to focus on making changes the way land is assessed.”
The article’s conclusion addresses the feasibility of the recommendations by the Adirondack Watershed Institute from the viewpoint of the New York State Department of Transportation, and through this analysis shows the reluctance by the Department of Transportation to takes steps to preserve the biodiversity of the Adirondack Park.
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