Article
California Condors, Source Credibility, and Wildlife Conservation Messaging
Journalism and Media
(2022)
Abstract
This article examines the role of source credibility in the sphere of wildlife conservation campaigns. Specifically, it explores how particular messengers can motivate hunters, ranchers, and wildlife managers in California, Utah, and Arizona to voluntarily adopt non-lead ammunition. I analyze two partner websites, each designed to provide the hunting community with accurate information about non-lead ammunition. I then identify key principles regarding source credibility that arose from semi-structured interviews with four individuals closely involved in North American vulture and raptor conservation: representatives of the Ventana Wildlife Society, the Institute for Wildlife Studies, The Peregrine Fund, and Pinnacles National Park. The conclusion identifies lessons about the role of source credibility in wildlife conservation campaigns and situates the findings in the context of existing research on environmental communication and education.
Keywords
- environmental communication; education; source credibility; wildlife conservation; condors; vultures; raptors; non-lead ammunition
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer July 12, 2022
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030030
Citation Information
Patrick Belanger. "California Condors, Source Credibility, and Wildlife Conservation Messaging" Journalism and Media Vol. 3 (2022) p. 419 - 435 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/patrick-belanger/13/