Michigan Radio and Enbridge Energy

An open letter to Michigan Radio and The Environment Report.

Dear Michigan Radio Team,

Let me start by saying I have a lot of respect for the work you all do every day to bring us radio news content. As one who considers himself media savvy I generally feel that among the major media outlets you are relatively unbiased in you reporting.

Unfortunately, every time I hear that the Environment Report is now sponsored by Enbridge Energy it undermines my trust in your reporting. 

We desperately need quality environmental reporting.  The planet that we all love is in desperate straights. We need courageous reporters who are not afraid to point fingers at the corporations that pose a threat to our environment. Global climate change is the most significant environmental issues we face. Many of us are concerned about the development of Canadian tar sands, and their effect on global warming. James Hansen has said that if  Canadian proceeds to exploit the oil in the tar sands "it will be game over for the climate." Enbridge is one of the major transporters of this oil.

Holy Cow!!! Enbridge is sponsoring your environmental reporting?! You're not Fox News. The whole point of having public radio is to have media that is not beholden to corporate interests.

My guess is that the funding Enbridge offers is "unrestricted". But such money is never really without strings. Some times the influence of money is invisible. And good people even with the best of intentions and the highest levels of integrity can be influenced by funding with out even being aware that it is happening. 

How long will Embridge be funding the Environment Report?

I still have faith in Michigan Public Radio. I know you can find other sources of funding for the Environment Report.  I know you can expand your coverage of global warming, tar sands oil, and the role that Enbridge's pipelines have to play.

Thank you for taking time to listen to my concerns.  

Sincerely,

Gaia Kile