The role of the media in the public's understanding of environmental issues is one of the topics to be considered at a one-day forum to be held in Dunedin next month.
The New Zealand Media and Environment Forum will bring together politicians, scientists, journalists, environmental activists and academics, including scientist Dr Jim Salinger, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, Helen Bain of Forest and Bird, and Brian Fallow of The New Zealand Herald.
Forum organiser, University of Otago department of politics senior lecturer Dr Geoff Craig said the idea was that dialogue between news media and environmental stakeholders was necessary to enhance the quality of public debate and understanding of environmental issues.
Panel discussions would encourage dialogue on topics ranging from the science of climate change to environmental activism and alternate environmental media.
Open to the public, the forum will be held at the Otago Museum's Hutton Theatre on November 6.
