Media Mindfulness

As media critics we tend to constantly point the finger at how bad everything is, so it’s nice to be able to also encourage good behavior. In this case, it’s NBC News, which has started a new series, “What Works.” It’s designed to exemplify and showcase programs, projects and people who are making positive changes. This is exactly the kind of thing I wish we’d get on programs like Democracy Now! I find it frustrating to see in media from both the Left and RIght a continuously angry and fearful tone. It remains to be seen how the NBC News series goes; it could ultimately chose subjects that presumably only reenforce the prevailing paradigm. But it’s first segment on green roofs in Chicago bodes well. If you click to the link, you can view video as well.

Green roof saves green in Chicago - Nightly News with Brian Williams - MSNBC.com:

CHICAGO - It’s like a scene from a peaceful meadow: Where wildflowers bloom and the bees are busy. But to reach this slice of Eden, one doesn’t travel out of town, one travels up, 12 stories up.

“I talked about building a green roof,” says Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, “and everybody kind of looked at me whether or not I kind of lost it, ha ha ha.”

But the crazy idea is paying off. Since Chicago installed a 20,000 square foot “green roof” atop City Hall five years ago, the city has saved about $25,000 in energy costs.