By Natalie Belva
Despite a perceived lack of news coverage, Floridians consider themselves knowledgeable about endangered species and want to know even more, according to a recent study by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education.
Fifty-two percent of respondents to the PIE Center’s third public opinion survey stated that they had not noticed any endangered species coverage in the news in the last month. Of the remaining 48 percent, 19 percent were unsure.
Despite the perceived lack of news coverage, the majority of respondents are interested in news about endangered species. When asked if they would pay attention to future coverage on endangered species, 85 percent stated they were likely or very likely to do so.
“It seems like it is something that is on the public’s radar and something they pay attention to,” PIE Center Director Tracy Irani said. “Although endangered species are not covered as often as economic stories for example, when there is coverage, it spikes people’s attention and interest.”
Consistent with their interest in news coverage, most respondents consider themselves to be knowledgeable about potential threats to endangered species.
When asked about their knowledge of threats to endangered species, only 12 percent stated they were not knowledgeable, compared to 63 percent who believed they were fairly, highly or extremely knowledgeable.
Floridians in the study consistently responded that they were at least slightly knowledgeable on topics such as preventing the endangerment of plants and animals, which species are endangered, as well as related government efforts, public policies and industrial activities
“Readers can understand information about endangered species, they can sympathize with it and the complexity is something that many people can manage,” Irani said. “When you hear about some major policy reform or a highly scientific and technical set of issues, that may be less engaging for people.”
Previous topics of the PIE’s public opinion surveys include water quality and quantity, as well as immigration reform. Results from the fourth survey planned for this year, dealing with food production practices, are due out in early December.
