New study published on Isle Royale wolf relocations

The well-publicized relocation of wolves from the mainland U.S. and Canada to Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior has been taking place without journalists on site.

Female wolf released on Isle Royale. Photo Credit: National Park Service

A newly published study coauthored by Knight Center director Eric Freedman found that coverage in the news media relied heavily on U.S. government sources, with little attention to the views and input from other sources, such as independent experts, Native American and First Nations representatives, park visitors or nearby mainland businesses.

The other authors are University of Michigan doctoral student Alexander Killion and Professor Mark Neuzil, the chair of the Department of Emerging Media at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

“The Effects of Access Restrictions and Communication Strategies for Divisive Environmental Management” examined the strategies and techniques used by the National Park Service and other agencies to keep the press informed. It also looked at how news outlets covered the controversial relocations that began in fall 2018.

The Park Service cited concerns about the health and safety of the wolves and of personnel as the reason to preclude access for journalists. The agency, however, provided the press with a stream of news releases, photos and videos.

The relocations were designed to rebuild the population of gray wolves on Isle Royale at a time when only two wolves were left on the island. Scientists and natural resource managers said it was necessary to rebuilding the wolf population as an effective way to control the number of moose on the island.

The study appeared in the journal Environmental Science and Policy.

Apply NOW: Paid environmental journalism internship available

Great Lakes Now, a program of Detroit Public TV is hiring a summer intern in partnership with the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.

The 20-hour-per-week position pays $4,000 and starts May 15. Applications are open to current MSU students and recent alumni with experience reporting and writing about the environment.

The intern will search pitch, report, write and edit news articles for GreatLakesNow.org and partner websites, develop multimedia digital content to accompany articles, take part in planning meetings and potentially help develop segments for the Great Lakes Now monthly program for more than two dozen PBS channels and hundreds of Canadian cable providers.

Interns will get practical and realistic hands-on experience in one or more of:

News Reporting: Research, report and write stories for publishing on the site. Assist with research and pre-production for monthly show.

Digital Asset Creation: Creating visual elements for site both in conjunction with stories and to stand alone.

Applicants should be familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Google Suite and have excellent online research skills and a general sense of administrative management.

How to Apply: Send links to at least three stories in an email and attach your resume and cover letter to:

HumanResources@dptv.org with “GLN Internship – MSU Journalism” in the subject line.

Awards, scholarships recognize outstanding environmental journalism students

Students in our environmental journalism classes and working for the Knight Center and Great Lakes Echo garnered top recognition at the School of Journalism’s 2021 Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to all.

Don Caldwell Memorial Scholarship in Environmental Journalism

  •  Weiting Du, Taylor Haelterman and Chioma Lewis

Len Barnes AAA Michigan Fund Award

  • Jonus Cottrell, Taylor Haelterman and Indri Maulidar

Rachel Carson Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Environmental Journalism

  • Chioma Lewis

Mickie L. Edwardson Endowed Scholarship

  • Apoorva Joshi and Marie Orttenburger

Michael A. and Sandra S. Clark Scholarship

  • Claire Moore and Leigh Anne Tiffany

Edward J. Meeman Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Environmental Journalism

  • Lillian Young

Knight Center Service Award

  • Taylor Haelterman

      Chioma Lewis

      Jonus Cottrell

      Weiting Du

      Taylor Haelterman

      Apoorva Joshi

      Indri Maulidar

      Claire Moore

      Marie Orttenburger

      Leigh Anne Tiffany

      Lillian Young