If anyone bothers to review all 20 of the editorials in El Planeta Platica, the sum will be a very strange lot. Editorials are about opining about something, and to be honest, for a person of strong opinion, I hate editorializing.
In mainstream journalism, editorials are often on-the-mark, moreso than most news "stories." Somehow in the questionable logic of objectivity and freedom-of-the-press, we allow writers more independence in the editorials than in articles themselves. Curiously, for those looking for news, it's often more reliable to follow editorials than the articles themselves.
News tends to follow specific formats, even stereotypes. Leader says this. Opposition says this. End of story. Those quoted tend to be in positions of visible power, most often in the government or well-known institutions.
This is particularly true in regard to U.S. and mainstream coverage of Latin America. News articles rarely provide the context for the events that are occuring. The pursuit of "objective" journalism usually implies an over-dependence on official sources. Curiously, take a look at U.S. foreign coverage - many of the stories have a Washington, D.C. dateline!
That said, I've never been sure what to make of my own editorial column. Reality is such a strange beast. Most editorials don't acknowledge the limitation of traditional journalism. But that's what I find in my inner being. I search my soul and remember I probably wouldn't have been introduced to Latin America except for the failure of mainstream journalism. Ten years ago the U.S. was ready to go to war with Nicaragua, and I wondered why I, a college graduate, had never heard of Nicaragua. Mainstream journalism rarely "breaks" news - that's the job of the alternative press.
It's not the point of this editorial to blame reporters or editors from mainstream media. Far from it. The question we need to ask is how can we improve coverage. Readers play an important role here - in surfing the web for details and soliciting more stories from their own newspapers.
What scares me most is the potential of the internet for creating "information ghettos" in which Latin America is only discussed via the Net. The Institute for Global Communications (Econet and Peacenet) pioneered many newsgroups and services for the Americas in the 1980s, but until recently, this group has guarded most of its materials, leading to a closed room discussion where the converted preach to each other.
Habitat conservation and local development may not be front-page stories, but they ought to be highlighted in a consistent and well-researched manner. Environmental stories are tomorrow's political and economic features. The division between "environmental journalism" and any other form of journalism tends to blur when you look at a story over time.
That said, many readers have asked about the future of El Planeta Platica. I am happy to report that starting next year, the journal will continue but under a different name - Planeta and serve as a synthesis of articles posted on the Eco Travels in the Americas website. Online publication will coincide roughly with the spring and autumn equinoxes.
To help readers find what's new on the website, I suggest that you subscribe yourself to our Announcement Service . You'll receive a message about once a month. You can also check out the Newstracker serivce on the Excite website and search for topics such as "ecotourism," "ecologia" or any country for news from Planeta and other resources as well.
Kudos to you readers! Frankly, I wouldn't invest so much time of my own on this website if it weren't for the positive feedback from readers. You - who are reading this now - are a vital partner. News distribution needs to be a service, more so than a business. Thanks your interest and curiosity, the website is a tremendous success. Together we are proving that there is a demand for information on environmental issues and travel in the Americas. Your comments are always welcome.
Upcoming Trips: This summer I am traveling to Ecuador to take part in the World Congress on Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism. For more info, see the Adventure Travel website: http://www.adventuretravel.com/quito.html. In November, I head to Honduras to begin work on revising the Honduras: Adventures in Nature guidebook with Jim Gollin.
Ron Mader hosts the Planeta.com website and writes frequently on Latin American issues. He is available for speaking engagements and workshops.
1998 Copyright Ron Mader. Non-commercial distribution is welcome and encouraged if source is given. Bridges and Borders is a regular feature from the Eco Travels in the Americas website (http://www.planeta.com).
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