Congressman Turner's Office Won't Return Calls on Climate Change

Mike Turner (R) - 10th District

     Despite five phone calls to his DC and Dayton offices and emailing his press secretary, Republican Congressman Turner's office would not respond with his position on climate change.
     The Climate Change Reporting Project had a simple task: Call an Ohio Congressman, ask them or their press aid what the Congressman's position on climate change is, and request a brief phone or Skype interview convenient for them.
     After five phone calls, four of which were responded with "we'll call you back," and an email sent to his press secretary, not once did he or his office staff contact us about his position.
     The only answer we were ever given came from Ben Graham, a member of Turner's Dayton office staff. "We don't know specifically what his position on climate change is." said Graham.
     The Congressman's site has detailed information on Health Care, National Defense and Security, Delphi Salaried Retirees, and more. Yet on an issue of such global scale, the Congressman's website doesn't contain a single mention of climate change.

 

What I learned from the Climate Change Reporting Project.

The Climate Change Reporting Project made me take a hard look at what it means to be a journalist. I learned being a journalist means not being a human microphone. I learned you can't just take silence for an answer, if they're going to turn you down, you need to make them say no. I found out you need to be aggressive when they won't talk, you need to call multiple times, and ask the questions they don't want to answer.

Bryan Heraghty
Climate Change Reporting Project
Kent State University