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Updated July 2, 2008
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The AGS Media Center
The AGS provides highly qualified geographers to speak to the Media
on a variety of issues critical to human, environmental, political, and economic development. The AGS Writers Circle produces Commentary and Op Ed pieces about issues of importance to global society. In 2007, for example, more than 25 newspapers nationwide
published versions of sixteen Op Ed commentaries by members of the AGS Writers Circle.
With expertise in such areas as geopolitics (e.g., Afghanistan and the Middle East), spatial technologies (e.g. Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) and Spatial Modeling),
water management, global climate change (e.g. Sea Level Rising), globalization, urban growth and change,
and social issues (e.g., cyberspace, privacy, cultural imperialism, religious conflict), among others, the American Geographical
Society can provide Media representatives with up-to-date and insightful analysis of current and historical events.
OP EDS AND NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coal, Not Oil, Could be Defining Issue of 2008 Election.
This Op Ed by AGS Fellow Tim Ryan argues that
new technologies could make coal more important than oil over the coming decade. It appeared in the June 25th edition of Hawaii Reporter
and was reposted on several blogs such as ISIL Channels. Tim is a geographer, statistician, and research coordinator at Infotech Information and Research Consultants in Los Angeles.
Sensing Geography.
This Op Ed by AGS Writers Circle member Peter Mires suggests that new
technologies are changing the way we view the world around us. This Op Ed appeared in the June 19, 2008, issue of the Hawaii Reporter. Dr. Mires teaches geography at the University of Delaware.
Cheney's Insult: Appalachians: the slur-able Americans.
This Op Ed by AGS President Jerry Dobson addressed the stereotypical view of Appalachian folk
highlighted by Vice-President Dick Cheney's comments about West Virginians. It appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on June 10, 2008; in the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday June 9;
in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on June 6; in the Tampa Tribune on June 8; in the Northwest Arkansas Times on June 7;
in the Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX) on June 4;
in the Tacoma News-Tribune
on June 3; in the Athens Banner-Herald on June 1; and in the
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star (VA) on May 31, 2008.
More Soldiers, Fewer Geography Students: Thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act.
This Op Ed addresses weaknesses in the No Child Left Behind Act,
especially the absence of funding for geographic education, and it appeared in the Hawaii Reporter on January 7, 2008, and in the Austin American Statesman on January 14, 2008.
Author James F. Marran is a member of the Writers Circle of the American Geographical Society. He headed the social studies department of the New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois for more than three decades and is a leader in the national movement to improve the teaching of geography in the nation’s schools.
How history, geography will inform the election.
This Op Ed on the geographical dimensions of the 2008 election appeared in the
Oak Ridger, TN, on December 31, 2007. Author Timothy Ryan is a geographer, statistician, and research coordinator at Infotech Information and Research Consultants in Los Angeles.
In presidential politics, much rides on history, geography.
This Op Ed on the geographic dimensions of the electoral college appeared in the North Jersey News Herald,
on December 30, 2007. Author Timothy Ryan is a geographer, statistician, and research coordinator at Infotech Information and Research Consultants in Los Angeles.
Under an Electronic Eye, 24/7
This Op Ed by AGS President Jerry Dobson appeared in the North Texas Star Telegram
on Thursday December 27, 2007, and addresses the growing concern with geoslavery, as exemplified by the disappearance of Stacy Peterson.
New Game Puts Geography on the Map.
The Wall Street Journal featured a quote by AGS President Jerry Dobson
in its December 15, 2007 (p. W1) issue responding to a new game called Traveller IQ Challenge.
China's Sustainable Development is a Global Priority.
This Op Ed commentary by Juha Uitto, AGS Councilor, member of the AGS Writer's Circle, and Evaluation Adviser with the United Nations Development Programme,
appeared in the Hawaii Reporter on December 14, 2007, and
argues for greater attention to China's environmental practices.
End Ignorance of Middle East Geography.
This Op Ed commentary on America's lack of understanding about the Middle East by Dorothy Drummond, AGS Fellow, member of the AGS Writers Circle,
and author of Holy Land, Whose Land? Modern Dilemma, Ancient Roots was featured in the
Austin Statesman on December 10, 2007.
Top Geographer to Shed Light on his Field's Landscape.
AGS President Jerry Dobson was featured in this article that appeared in the Bloomington, IL, Pantagraph on November 9, 2007, that addresses
the land-mines mapping and cartographic representation project.
Rural Revitalization in New Mexico.
This Op Ed commentary by Gerald Pitzl, an educational consultant for the Rural Education Bureau of the New Mexico
Public Education Department and a member of the Writers Circle of the American Geographical Society, appeared in the October 16, 2007, edition of
the Hawaii Reporter. It addresses the challenges of social and economic development in small rural communities in New Mexico.
Who will put America back together again?.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) addresses the failure of the U.S. to invest in
infrastructure nationwide. Inadequate investment in aviation, rail, road, security, and other infrastructural needs will limit the U.S.'s ability to compete in the global economy.
It appeared in the Honolulu Hawaii Reporter as a Guest Editorial
on September 28, 2007, and was reprinted in the online Foire d'Opinions Haitiennes on Saturday, September 29, 2007. This Op Ed also appeared
in the Ashley County Ledger, Arkansas, on October 2, 2007; and
in the "Viewpoints" section (D1,D3) of the Fredericksburg, VA, Free Lance-Star on November 25, 2007.
World Hot Spots: What Google Earth and Geography Tell Us About War, Peace, and Politics.
This video presentation of a public forum at the Dole Institute on September 21, 2007, featured
Brian McClendon, Engineering Director at Google; Dr. Jerry Dobson, Professor of Geography at the University of Kansas and President of the American Geographical Society;
Dr. Alec Murphy, Professor of Geography at the University of Oregon and AGS vice-president; and Greg Hurd, producer and writer. The presentation was also featured
in the September 19, 2007, edition of the Kansas Topeka Capital-Journal.
Challenge for the next President (that no one is talking about).
This Op Ed on regional and strategic challenges for the next president appeared in the Bullhead City Bee,
Arizona, on September 21, 2007. Author Timothy Ryan is a geographer, statistician, and research coordinator at Infotech Information and Research Consultants in Los Angeles.
Virtually Improving Real Living.
This Op Ed on the use of urban modeling technology appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
on September 17, 2007. Author Justin B. Hollander is an urban policy and environmental planning professor at Tufts University, Medford. MA.
An Accidental Victory!
This Op Ed on the impact of US policy in the Central Asian region appeared in the North Texas Star-Telegram on
July 30, 2007. Author Timothy Ryan is a geographer, statistician, and research coordinator at Infotech Information and Research Consultants in Los Angeles.
Cities are at Core of Global Immigration Debate.
This Op Ed by AGS Councilor and Assistant Secretary Marie Daly Price and Lisa Benton-Short, both in the
Department of Geography at George Washington University, addresses the issue of international migration and the role of large urban centers. This
commentary appeared in the North Jersey media on July 24, 2007.
Bring Back Geography!
The ARCNews Spring 2007 edition featured AGS President Jerry Dobson
making a compelling case for a reinvigoration of geography as a discipline core to our society's long-term challenges.
Geography Lost: The Why of Where.
This feature on the importance of geographic education appeared in the Daytona News-Journal on Sunday April 22, 2007. It featured
comments by AGS President Jerry Dobson and AGS Vice-President Alec Murphy. The author
of the feature contacted the AGS after receiving one of the AGS Op Ed pieces (see below) and also ran an accompanying geography quiz.
This feature story also appeared online on April 23 on MSNBC Online, and both
Murphy was quoted in the
Orlando Sentinel on April 26. A story titled "Mapping from Crime to Natural Disasters" also featured AGS president Jerry Dobson and appreared in the
Florida Daytona Beach News-Journal on April 22, 2007.
Big Fences do not make Good Neighbors!.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) argues that
the U.S. would be better advised developing strong economic communities south of the border rather than building a bigger barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border.
This commentary appeared as Mending Fences on April 23, 2007, in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Arctic Meltdown Creates Hot Policy Issues.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) argues that
the opening up of Arctic waters will create almost certain conflict over northern sea lanes, petro-resources, fishing rules, smuggling, piracy, and environmental protection.
The Commentary was published in the Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday,
April 14; in the Spectrum, St. Georges, Utah,
Sunday, April 1, 2007, and in the online Circumpolar Musings on April 2, 2007.
Geographical Ignorance Limits America's Opportunities.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle)
argues that the U.S. pays a price for ignoring geography in its classrooms and universities. This Commentary was published in the
Toledo Blade on Saturday May 5, 2007; in the Bakersfield Californian on Saturday March 24, 2007; in the
Northwest Arkansas Times on Monday February 26, 2007, and in
the
The Gleaner, Henderson, Kentucky, on Saturday March 3, 2007. The Op Ed themes also featured prominently in an editorial
on February 28, 2007, in the online edition of the Oxford Eagle.
Speaking ill of the Homeland, Comrade.
This Op Ed piece by Joe Scarpaci (a professor of Geography at Virginia Tech and a member of the American Geographical Society’s Writers Circle)
discusses the risks for Cubans exercising free speech compared with the costs for Americans doing the same. This Op Ed was published on
February 22, 2007 in the Cleburne News, Heflin, Alabama.
The U.S. Must Rethink its Afghanistan Policy.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle)
argues that US policy in Afghanistan has been a complete failure and that U.S. needs to take a more geographically nuanced approach
to addressing the challenges of rebuilding Afghanistan. This commentary appeared in the December 2006 issue of Ubique (p.4).
Extremism and Terrorism in the Homeland.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle)
argues that ignorance about the world around us could have significant negative consequences at home and facilitate the rise of
homegrown terrorism in the United States. It was published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Sunday October
29, 2006.
Bowman Expedition to Mexico.
The Lawrence Journal World, Kansas, featured AGS President Jerry Dobson in an article on Monday October 23, 2006, titled Exploring the
World Anew that highlighted the AGS Bowman Expeditions project in Mexico. .
Clashing Geopolitical Visions of Iraq.
This Op Ed piece by Alec Murphy (AGS Vice President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the Chicago
SunTimes on August 26, 2006, and argues that a simplistic view of Middle East geopolitics by US policy makers feeds extremism -- here and there.
If We Build It, They Won't Come.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the July 26th issue
of the Calhoun Times, Georgia and argues that building infrastructure in Latin America would be
more productive than building walls in reducing the northward flow of illegal migrants.
Reading (about Cuba) is Fundamental.
This Op Ed piece by Joe Scarpaci (member of the AGS Writer's Circle) argues that it's time for the U.S. to rethink its policy towards Cuba. It was
published in the Birmingham News on July 23, 2006.
Left Turns Don't Have to be Dead Ends.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the June 29, 2006, issue
of the News Mexico, online.
Get Back on the Rails, America.
This Op Ed piece by David Keeling (AGS Assistant Treasurer and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the June 25, 2006, issue
of the Daily Press, Newport News, Virgina. It also appeared in the West County Times, California, July 23, 2006, p3, and in
the Northwest Arkansas News on Friday July 28, 2006; and was reprinted in the July/August 2006 Fast Forward,
The Monthly Newsletter for the Texas High Speed Rail and Transport Corporation.
Who Gunned Down Geography?.
The Worcester Telegram and Gazette (MA), featured AGS President Jerry Dobson in an article on April 25, 2006, Page A7,
titled Who Gunned Down Geography? that highlighted the absence of geography as a discipline at many major universities. . This article was also
featured in the Rocky Mountain News, CO, on May 7, 2006 (Page 5E) under the title Geographic Ignorance Has Led U.S. into Folly.
Geographic Illiteracy led us to be Hoodwinked into War .
This Op Ed piece by Alec Murphy (AGS Vice President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the March 18, 2006, issue
of the Chicago Sun-Times .
Undermining America: The Opiate of Military Dominance.
This Op Ed piece by Braden Allenby (AGS Councilor and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the February 2006 issue of the AGS Newsletter Ubique.
AGS-sponsored Mexico Field Research Project.
Several stories on the AGS-sponsored Mexico Field Research Project have appeared in the Mexican Press recently.
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3, which also appears on the website of the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí
Living High on the Coast.
This Op Ed piece by Deborah Popper (AGS Councilor and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the South Mississippi Sun Herald on July 12, 2005.
The American Geographical Society Auctions Lindbergh Artifacts:
An article about the sale of the Lindbergh propeller and sextant appeared in the Boston Globe on July 17, 2005.
President of the American Geographical Society Jerry Dobson was interviewed by Greg Hurd on "River City Weekly" early in 2005 at the University of Kansas, where he is a professor of Geography. You can listen to Part I of the interview by clicking here. You can listen to Part II of the interview by clicking here. This videoclip requires Quicktime software, downloadable for free online.
*** Note that these are 5MB files, so they will take a while to download if you are using a dial-up connection.
Acknowledgements: Mt. Everest 3-D Geovisualization: ESRI, Inc.
Israel 3-D Geovisualization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The video clips are provided courtesy of “River City Weekly,” Greg Hurd/Brian Powell, Producers, Sunflower Broadband 6Productions, 644 New Hampshire, Lawrence, Kansas 66044, Tel: (785) 832-6372. Email: ghurd@sunflowerbroadband.com.
Copies of the video may be purchased by contacting:
Kevin Hoehns, Tape Dub Coordinator, 6Productions, 644 New Hampshire,
Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Tel: (785) 832-6344. Email khoehns@sunflowerbroadband.com.
The Dawning of the G-Bomb. This Commentary by Jerry Dobson (AGS President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in Directions Magazine on April 30, 2005.
The Human Tracking Debate. This Op Ed piece by Jerry Dobson (AGS President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the Casper, Wyoming, Star Tribune on March 7, 2005.
Every step you take, every move you make: It's time for an explicit national debate on human-tracking that goes far beyond privacy issues.
This Op Ed piece by Jerry Dobson (AGS President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the Chicago Tribune (Final Edition) on Feb 25, 2005; pg. 21 [Note: Requires Log-on membership to access this piece].
Human Tracking: Big Brother Goes Mainstream. This Op Ed piece by Jerry Dobson (AGS President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the North Jersey Media on February 21, 2005.
Who should have the right to track you?. This Op Ed piece by Jerry Dobson (AGS President and member of the AGS Writer's Circle) appeared in the South Mississippi Sun Herald on February 19, 2005.
For Democrats, it's the Big Chill.
Jim Wiley's Op Ed on the geography of electoral college votes appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sunday December 5, 2004, p. 1C.
and also in the Wyoming Star Tribune on December 5, 2004.
Slave to the machines: Researcher warns that GIS technology could be used to create a whole new kind of human slavery.
Read this interview of Jerry Dobson, AGS President, in the Peoria Journal Star concerning GIS and Geoslavery, Tuesday November 9, 2004.
Back in the USSR?.
This Op Ed piece by David J. Keeling (AGS Councilor, Webmaster, and member of the AGS Writers Circle) appeared online in the Anchorage Press, Vol. 13, edn. 41, October 14-20, 2004
To Understand Radicalism, We Must Know Geography.
This Op Ed piece by David J. Keeling (AGS Councilor, Webmaster, and member of the AGS Writers Circle) appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader on September 7, 2004
Free Trade and the Geography of Ignorance.
This Op Ed piece by David J. Keeling (AGS Councilor, Webmaster, and member of the AGS Writers Circle) appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 3, 2004, page B-9.
Geographic Ignorance Drives Foreign Policy.
This commentary by Jerry Dobson (AGS President) appeared in the April 2004 issue of
GeoWorld Magazine and addresses the issue of geography in the development and management of foreign policy.
Awash in a Sea of Geographical Ignorance.
This commentary by Alexander B. Murphy (AGS Vice President) appeared in the January 12, 2004, issue of Directions Magazine.
Geoslavery. This thought-provoking article by Jerry Dobson (AGS President) and Peter Fisher appeared in The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) journal - The Technology and Society Magazine -- Vol. 22 (1), pp. 47-52, Spring 2003.
The Newest Road to Fame and Fortune is Mapping the Road. Appeared in the Wall Street Journal on July 14, 2003.
After NAFTA: A Happy Trend
After NAFTA: An Unexpected Development
The Geography of S.A.R.S.
For more information, please contact the Executive Director, Mary Lynne Bird, at the AGS
Office:
The American Geographical Society
120 Wall Street, Suite 100
New York, NY 10005-3904
Tel: 1-212-422-5456; Fax: 1-212-422-5480
Email: AGS@amergeog.org
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