The Commentariat on Carbon

An analysis by Editorial Intelligence for the period October 2006 – January 2007

8th January 2007

e.i Analyst – Sarah Feather

Scope

Editorial Intelligence has reviewed several hundred articles in the UK national
press which coincided with the Stern Report publication on 30th October, 2006,
to ascertain:

• which commentators out of the main 200 daily by-lined op-ed “Commentariat” Columnists
  have covered the subject of Carbon Emissions/Reductions or the Environment/Sustainable
  issues in general.
• Screened against overall database of 800 columnists to identify 25 columnists, who
  because of the nature of their comments and overall scope of remarks, we recommend may
  benefit from receiving future relevant information.

Our aim

• Has not been to select an equally weighted group among columnists covering every national
  title, but to select those very columnists based on the quality, value and significance of
  what they write.
• Is not to claim these are the only columnists who have written about the issue of the
  environment or carbon emissions, but to provide an overall snapshot of the columnists whose
  article/articles appear to carry weight and overall credence among others.

Approximately 40 of the ‘top 200’ covered the issue of the environment and or carbon emissions.
e.i has identified a sample of this list below.

List of 5 columnists (sample number taken from selected list of 25)

• Camilla Cavendish, The Times
• Libby Purves, The Times
• George Monbiot, The Guardian
• Andrew Grice, The Independent
• John Ingham, The Daily Express

For the complete Report, which details 25 columnists, please contact Caroline Fielding.

Download sample analysis (PDF | 36KB)

Notes

Editorial Intelligence – or e.i – opens the door to a vital and growing world of print
and online comment and opinion. What the ‘Commentariat’ says affects and influences the
direction of public opinion and public policy alike and with it corporate reputation

We at e.i capture, digest, analyse and inform business, government and charities what they need to
know about the right writers. e.i information is tailored for chief executives and board directors,
communications teams and PR agencies with online analytics, training and development programmes,
and a lively publishing and events programme featuring some of the most incisive journalists
commenting on the world today.

e.i can tailor bespoke research on specific topics. This delivers insight into how relevant issues
are propelled into, and then ‘play’ through, the Commentariat.

For further information contact Julia Hobsbawm, Chief Executive or Caroline Fielding, Sales &
Marketing on 0207 272 2905