Polar Bears: Branding Global Warming
From Nathanael Johnson
| 00:07:03
Producers: Nathanael Johnson
Lede: What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus, but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify, more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming.
I talk to some real live polar bears and a cute-ologist, then chat up a Sierra Club rep about branding strategy.
Broadcast History
Podcast through the UC Berkeley's California Magazine
Transcript
Polar Bear Story
By Nathanael Johnson nathanael47@gmail.com
TRT ~7:00
What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus that lives in the north ? but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify ? more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming.
(Roar)
NJ: That ? is a polar bear. It?s about 4 feet away, and from this range there?s nothing abstract about it. There?s just claws and fur and teeth. I?ll come back to this very real bear in a moment, but first, I?d like to take a step back and ? (roar) okay, maybe a few steps back, maybe I?ll just close this gate.
(Gate amb)...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Polar Bear Story
By Nathanael Johnson nathanael47@gmail.com
TRT ~7:00
What is a polar bear? Okay, sure, it?s a big white member of the Ursus genus that lives in the north ? but it?s also a symbol. These days lots of people are thinking of polar bears in terms of what they signify ? more than what they actually are. When Time Magazine published a special report on global warming, editors put a polar bear on the cover. Reporter Nathanael Johnson went to find out what it is about polar bears that makes them such ideal poster-animals of global warming.
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Additional Information
- Produced: Dec 07, 2006
- Added to PRX: Dec 07, 2006
- This piece is in English
Jennifer Dagri
Posted on December 11, 2006 at 09:43 AM | Permalink
Review of Polar Bears: Branding Global Warming
I was very interested in this article, as it raises question to important global warming issues and the ways in which propagandists can effectively reach the public eye on this increasing threat. Not only are newsreporters begining to call attention to this, but artists are starting to adopt a cohabitual career of art and our fragile ecosystem. Eco-artists have adopted initiatives to help avert a global ecological emergency. This report on polarbears reminds me of these artists attempts to gain attention and public awareness. An animal is an internationally recognized icon- when we see an animal in severe pain- it causes us to want to do something about it. For more information about this article see Timeout.com/london/art.