The leading independent & multilingual EU policy portal Presentation Annual Meeting GSN 2004

The leading independent & multilingual EU policy portal

The leading independent & multilingual EU policy portal

The leading independent & multilingual EU policy portal

Environment and sustainable development policies Two policy sections look at main story developments and monitor most interesting policy debates (e.g. REACH, batteries, liability, SCALE…) EurActiv’s added-value: complementing the institutional debate with lobbying positions from civil society (industry, NGOs, think tanks) Crosslinking topics covered with other policy areas (horizontality)

How EurActiv works with environmental actors Receiving press releases and invitations press conference Monitoring websites Individual contacts with researchers, communication people Background information, interviews..

How to communicate with the international press? Some basis rules – no miracle solutions Don’t overestimate journalists : keep it simple although environmental messages are sometimes complex; Always link environmental stories with economic concerns: journalist, like ordinary citizens, think with their wallet; Become a resource for the journalist: help him when he needs more explanation or background material: journalists are lazy, they like others to do the work for them; Point the journalists to opposing ideas ; journalists like conflict; it is the basis for any story… Use each communication channel (TV, radio, paper, internet) for its strengths: internet: no space constraints, hyperlinks, easy to update

Moving environment up the media agenda More challenging Stop defining the issues as “protection of the environment” (defensive) and define them as ecology-economics problems; Presupposes that politicians, political communicators and press understand the interrelationship between “ecological capital” (natural resources, energy, material flows, waste streams) and the economy; Problem is that our measuring instruments of economic development/growth are flawed (GDP adds up negative externalities); Need to develop better indicators for sustainability, economic responsible growth;