Joyce Doesn't Provide a Postiion on Climate Change

Ohio Congressman David Joyce (R)

   Ohio Congressman David Joyce (R, 14), and his press aide Kevin Benacci, did not return five phone calls and five emails seeking Joyce's position on climate change. The Congressional Climate Change Reporting Project also requested a five minute videoskype interview on climate change, which was also ignored.

   Calls to Joyce's local office in Cleveland and office in Washington D.C. were not returned and a live person was never reached. When Joyce's office was notified his position would be left blank in the climate change project, phone calls and emails were still not returned.

   Joyce serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

   Ohio District 14 represents western Cuyahoga County, northern Summit County, northern Portage County, northern Trumbull County, Lake County, Geauga County and Ashtabula County.

   Climate change is an issue in the news currently and is being talked about during the presidential campaign. Republican candidates running for office have failed to address the issue of climate change while the Democrat candidates want to address the issue, which is growing daily.

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Eric Poston

   This project really allowed for me to realize members of Congress cannot take five minutes for a student journalist. The result of this project was upsetting as very few members of Congress got back with classmates. 

   These members are elected by us the people, and they should work for us by answering any questions we may have.

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

District 1 Left in the Dark Regarding Climate Change

Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot
(R) District 1

The Pope petitioned the nation to take action on climate change, but many Congressmen have yet to make a statement.  

Congressman Steve Chabot's office would not provide his position on climate change. 

I called six times and was consistently referred to Press Contact Brian Griffith's direct email and was told by secretary Joe Abner it was the "quickest way to get a response."

Kent State University
Congressional Climate Change Reporters

After a total of six phone calls and three unanswered emails, I was unable to receive an answer on Congressman Chabot's stance. 

An inspection of the Congressman's website finds no mention of climate change. 

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Kyle Marie Dawson
Congressional Climate Change Reporter

Being a part of Kent State's Congressional Climate Change Reporting Project opened my eyes to the lack of time and energy put in by many Ohio Congressmen to make sure the residents and reporters of given districts are educated on controversial topics. Very few of the student reporters were able to get an answer from their member. 

This project taught me how to be persistent in the process of requesting information. Calling one time and being told "no" is simply not good enough. It is also important to be prepared before contacting your source. Know what you are going to say and utilize variations of your tone and voice to take control of the situation.