another timely article by Wellington, on an important topic.

This piece does exactly what an 'opinion' piece should do. It digs beneath the mere facts, to ask basic questions about causation, policy, society. She then pursues those questions logically and factually. Using two environmentally similar disasters (both toxic spills affecting water commons) she then compares different judicial & political responses based on different national legal & political structures. This gives her a chance to ask the question: which is better? Which is a question of immense societal significance. To give background on environmental & health impacts, she brings in experts with a good track record -- both in terms of accuracy of data & independent advocacy for public welfare.

Yes, it achieves the key goals of sound journalism -- in careful & transparent use of sources, efforts to track down the best sources, clear statements re/ important questions & implications, timely engagement with breaking stories. In addition, it does something that Wellington consistently does well. She is one of the few good journalists who has made 'coal' her beat in a holistic way. Rather than focus only on one dimension -- she integrates multiple dimensions -- the political economy of the coalfields, the emerging social movements, the new & diverse media & art, the policy questions re/ energy & coal industry. She can do this because she's built up over years, a strong network of sources, contacts -- and she's got the ... More »

This is a good, short article reviewing the web site for federal mine safety -- in terms of the accessiblity of the data. I hope other articles explore the context around this and the long term lack of transparency and access to key data about mining. This would be an excellent topic at this time. There are many problems that arise from the too close relationship between mining special interests and govt sectors. For instance, this article correctly refers to the lack of clarity or transparency re/ multiple owners. This is a long term problem -- see for instance the description & chart in Kai Erikson's book on the Buffalo Creek disaster. This article notes the difficulty in getting data to compare mines & patterns -- this ... More »

This is a good discussion of Massey coal company's history of safety violations-- focusing on two mines. It is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far, certainly not beyond the most easily accessible data from MSHA. Massey has a long and controversial history. More interviews with knowledgeable people in the coalfields would open up many other lines of inquiry -- many of which will require data that is hard to get, because of the unusual lack of transparency of data for purposes of comparison within the coal sector. But, a more complete & contextualized history of Massey could look at the coal slurry spill in Inez KY in 2000, at the controversial CEO (see: NYTimes, 10/22/06 piece by Ian Urbina; Grist, 10/16/06 piece ... More »

This is a very important piece. After much effort, over years, they have done an excellent job of investigation and expose. It is an interesting new model for investigative journalism, using new media & networking outside of the old-line print journalism which is cutting funding for investigative journalism. It is powerful in what it does, i.e., obtaining, un-incrypting & disseminating military videos. I'm not sure yet how I feel about other functions of old-style journalism or documentary. E.g., , it doesn't attempt what some older journalism or documentary reporting did -- the whole context or multiple points of view -- i.e., it would be fascinating for someone to try to interview US military individuals who were doing ... More »

In a short space, this article analyzes underlying causes of the mine disaster in Montcoal WV on 4/5/10. It is excellent in 3 ways: the historical context it provides, the writer's detailed knowledge of the geography & people, the high quality of experts used as sources. Unlike many of the national level journalists who are coming in to cover this story, Ken Ward has the advantage of local & regional knowledge -- so his article distills many complex questions about a) quality of safety regulations (do they match up well with the real technical & human dangers) and b) the quality of enforcement. His depth of background knowledge allows him to focus on most important issues & best sources with seasoned expertise. This shows ... More »

Very detailed and carefully researched piece on a topic where it's difficult to gather data. Wellington tracks down & compiles multiple leads & reports with remarkable tenacity, taking much care to identify sources & to document. This brings together the best of old-style journalism [high standards in data & accuracy & fact checking] with the best of new blogosphere [raising important questions & linking multiple strands of inquiry & voices & networks working on similar questions].

Once again Wellington has given us a well documented look at the real life conditions that determine the quality of journalism today. This on-the-ground, careful look at a) the struggling new spaces for new kinds of journalism outside the mega-, overcommercialized media and b) the Big Money drenched social spaces within the convention which shape the 'mainstream politics' where mainstream journalists, politicians & opinion-makers hobnob. She also puts the current scene into longer historical perspectives.

It is good to hear from this author on this subject. Beeman is an anthropologist who has been prolific in writing for public audiences about complex cultural / political dimensions of current conflicts. So, he brings a well seasoned judgement to analysis of historical / political contexts to current geopolitical dramas--drawing out dimensions that are far too hidden in current US mainstream media. While I agree with other reviewers that he could have more effectively sourced this article, he has a good past track record of scholarship that makes me less worried about that [e.g., well regarded book T"he “Great Satan” vs. the “Mad Mullahs”: How the United States and Iran Demonize Each Other" ]. His argument re/ the role of US ... More »

This is a superb analysis of the under-reported civic struggles in Appalachian coalfields over the radical form of stripmining that is creating almost abiotic landscapes--in a region that has major headwaters and some of the highest biodiversity of any temperate region in the world. It is important because this story is under-reported yet relates to acute national issues of climate change (since coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel for greenhouse gases) and social justice (since the region has suffered unequally from the externalities of fossil fuel era). But, it also does an excellent job of looking over current laws & cultural definitions of 'terrorism'--and of placing these in light of our national history. It's important that we ... More »

The weakness in this piece is that it pays no attention to the impacts on local people or the environment. It also doesn't show the big picture of parallel damages to coalfield residents and ecologies in other parts of the world. It is true that one can't do everything in one article, but this seems to be a 'frame' in national debates about coal--a tendency to frame out damages caused during production, and to focus on post production damages (like global warming or air quality). The powerlessness and disvaluing of coalfield residents & places is directly related to the long term inequalities generated by coal--a pattern of inequality which is structurally inherent in extractive industries of this sort--for many reasons.

Excellent discussion. Given the way her personal life has been buffeted by media sensationalizing of her personal story, a lesser person than Elizabeth Edwards could have spoken from a sense of injury. Instead she takes the high road to try to understand how the public good is at stake. She keeps her sights on big questions about what kind of communicative spaces are needed to keep democracy vibrant.

This story is trapped within 'frames' that are widely distributed in mass media and seem to unconsciously shape the interviewing, researching & writing strategies used here. First, it makes passing reference to economic hardship but spends almost all its text on 'lifestyle'--as if its unhealthy personal choices that are the problem. This individualizes the issue rather than placing it in wider structural contexts which are well documented to have direct causal effects. So many key questions were not asked. What about the 'food desert' that's been well documented in rural Virginia and other low income areas--e.g., the stunning lack of reasonably priced fresh produce & other healthy foods or food outlets? What about the high ... More »