Digital Media Analysis
Digital Media Analysis by Sofia, Ebba H. and Linnea
Richard Walls and Jeanette Clayton’s group
Three different sources from YouTube, a blog and TransCanada’s official website argue for different perspectives about the Keystone XL pipeline. The YouTube source presents three different environmentally active people and they explain the negative effects the pipeline will have on the environment, such as the increased carbon dioxide level. Mike Tidwell, founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network claims that saying no to the KXL could mean that “finally we're turning a corner on our dirty energy addiction"(Mike Tidwell, 2011). TransCanada believes that KXL is too important for the economy. The U.S.A. uses five million barrels of oil more than they import per day. The crude oil is a very important energy source for the US and the oil pipeline would secure the country’s oil supply (TransCanada, 2011). A conservative blog written by a majoring in advanced conservative studies discusses how the KXL is important to provide jobs (Conservative Blogs Central, 2011).
The YouTube clip is angled the way it is because the participants are environmental workers and one of them comes from Wisconsin that is severely affected by climate changes and does not want to become worse (Mike Tidwell, 2011). TransCanada are affected by the fact that they are working with KXL pipelines, they have already produced material that is needed and it would therefore be a waste of money to throw it away (TransCanada, 2011). The blogger’s ideology is affecting the perspective of the text by having other political opinions than Obama (Conservative Blogs Central, 2011). All of the sources are only arguing for their own opinion and do not include other perspectives. The people presented in the sources are well education in their own area. However, they do not have enough knowledge of the other parts fields to make an un biased statement.
It was easier to find arguments against the KXL pipeline because the media provides the demonstrators more attention. The environmental questions are a sensitive matter since it is a very central question. Moreover, the possible applicants for the jobs are not being heard but only governmental people speaking for them. Because of moral reasons scattered parts of the society that need employment may deny the jobs. This is neither brought up in the media. In conclusion, it is difficult to be un objective in the KXL discussion since the options includes a strong stand point.
Sources
The blog
http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2011/11/obama-cares-about-re-election-while.html
The YouTube clip
The official website
http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html
