What on earth?

Forest and Bird, Issue 268, 1 May 1993, Page 9

What on earth?

IN CHRISTCHURCH. Forest and Bird has taken to the airwaves. Since September last year it has worked with Epicentre, the Department of Conservation, and a loose network of Canterbury environmental organisations to produce a weekly television programme called "What on Earth". The idea for a regular programme to cover "green" issues and places often over-looked by the mainstream media came from Janet Holm, a long-time clean air campaigner, Forest and Bird member, and one of the founders of Christchurch’s environment centre. Canterbury TV agreed and staff have been generous with encouragement, support and practical help with film editing and occasional filming.

Topics featured to date include art in the environment, the benefits of marine reserves, the birdlife of the AvonHeathcote estuary, urban and rural recycling schemes, a Maori perspective on Riccarton Bush, and the use and misuse of rainforest timber. The venture into "access style television" and coming to grips with turning a bright idea into a watchable ten-minute programme has meant a steep learning curve for all the volunteers involved. Interviewing, script writing, on-air presentation and general media skills have been greatly sharpened as a result, especially among those who had never before handled a video camera. The range of groups involved in producing programmes, from the Historic Places Trust and the North Canterbury Conservation o

Board to Marine Watch, has also helped build useful personal contacts and links between individuals and

organisations. The ten-minute programme screens each Tuesday on Canterbury TV.