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NYT Marriage Announcement: Energy and Environment
A while back I was complaining about how public opinion polls fail to connect the dots between issues (and solutions) that are clearly related: energy, economy, jobs, environment. The result of this artificial separation is most often that the environment is counted as a low priority.
But more and more, the separation rings false -- and the prioritization fails to make sense either. Energy policy is environmental policy.
That's why I was glad to see The New York Times (among the heavies when it comes to setting the agenda for the news media and public discourse) roll out a new section: Energy and Environment.
The new Energy & Environment section just launched with comprehensive news, analysis and insights. Refer to new topic guides on biofuels, coal, wind energy and more. Also, watch a new series of videos tracking the progress of making a 60-year-old home more energy efficient.
AND...it's in the Business section!
It's like a big splashy marriage announcement. If the NYT is connecting the dots in this formal, highly-visible way, it's a good sign of a shifting zeitgeist. (I know it's uncool to say zeitgeist these days...sorry.) Even better, when the dots are connected -- by the public as well as elected officials -- policy that works on multiple levels is more likely to follow.
