Run with News Releases -- Get out the Scalpel!

I’ve been asked to add a few more solid examples, so we can pick them apart. So here goes. This is a news release from Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey’s office:

A study published on March 15, 2009 in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience is a further indication that Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy will be subject to the worst effects of global warming and rising sea levels, says Bill Casey M.P.This study prepared by Jianjun Yin of the Centre for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University, Michael E. Schlesinger of the Climate Research Group at the University of Illinois and Ronald J. Stouffer of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at Princeton used computer models and sea current studies to predict that the northeastern coast of North America will experience higher sea level increases than any other area of the planet. According to the study, climate change will not only cause ice to melt but will also affect the ocean currents. This coupled with the geography of the ocean floor itself, will in turn will generate even greater increases in the sea levels on the northeast coast of North America.. “That this will have an even greater impact on the Bay of Fundy due to the exaggerated tides there,” said Casey who iindicated that there are now several reports and studies that show there will be sea level problems in the future for Bay of Fundy.“Now is the time to start assessing the problems and planning remedial action, not later when there is a crisis,” said Casey, who raised the issue in the House of Commons last week and followed up with a meeting with the Minister of the Environment. The Minister has agreed to meet with his officials to explore potential actions that might be taken. Considering this new study, Casey will be encouraging the minister to increase the resources at his disposal when dealing with the issue when the House of Commons resumes next week.

What’s the story?

There’s now even more scientific evidence that the Bay of Fundy is at risk because of global warming, and area MP Bill Casey is calling for immediate action.

Casey says rising sea levels will mean serious erosion problems along the Fundy Shore, and pointed to the most recent article in the journal Nature Geoscience, where scientists used computer-generated simulations to show how badly the area could be affected.

Casey met with the Minister of Environment last week, and says Jim Prentise agreed to have his staff explore potential options. Given this latest study, Casey says he’ll be asking for immediate action to protect the Fundy shoreline and infrastructure.

Should I have added more detail?

I would have liked to, but time constraints really don’t permit a more in-depth story. Basically, the listener now knows that there’s a new study out and Casey is all over it. The Dept. of Environment is doing something, and if they want to read all the gory details of the study, they can pick the latest copy of the journal.

When you are writing a news story for radio, think of words as being very expensive and you have a tight budget. (That shouldn't be too big a stretch for most. Ha!)