Western Libraries to Host Journalism's Derek Moscato for ‘Pipelines and Prairie Protest’ Oct. 17

Derek Moscato, assistant professor of Journalism at Western Washington University, will give a talk entitled “Pipelines and Prairie Protest: How Great Plains Environmentalists Win Hearts and Minds and Change the Media Narrative,” at Western Washington University from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in the Western Libraries Reading Room (Wilson Library 4th floor Central).

The event is free and open to the public.

During his talk, Moscato will explore the role of specific communication and media tactics in evolving an organization’s metanarrative as it toggles between short- and long-term goals. He will explore civic environmental persuasion built upon the attributes of narrative, hyper-localization, engagement, and bipartisanship in order to build broad support and influence public policy.

Moscato’s research focuses on the use of communication and publicity strategies within contemporary environmental activism. In particular, he draws from the ongoing case of Bold Nebraska, a grassroots advocacy group that has opposed the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL petroleum pipeline in the state of Nebraska since 2008. Such an analysis of activist communication informs several areas of research, including media and public relations, social movement organizations, and environmental communication. 

To understand the successful construction of green communication within such activism, his research draws from social movement framing, media framing, and rhetorical strategies. This approach provides a holistic means to understanding the strategic construction of environmental appeals and the interplay of social movement organizations, public relations, and persuasion. This study also considers the dynamic of populism in environmental activism.

Derek Moscato earned his doctorate at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication. His dissertation was recipient of the school’s 2017 Outstanding Dissertation Award.

This talk is offered as part of the Western Libraries Reading Series. For more information about this event, please contact Jenny Oleen at (360) 650-2613 or via email at Jenny.Oleen@wwu.edu.