Debunking the Debunkers

James Hoggan, Leader, DeSmogBlogOwner,

James Hoggan & Associates desmogblog.com, hoggan.com

Catherine Tse

photo by Jaime Kowal

What motivates Jim Hoggan, environmental communicator extraordinaire? Anger. With a background in law and a thirst for social responsibility, he is frustrated by how many inaccurate media reports are polluting the climate-change debate, and how many people are confused as a result. His solution? A weblog: desmogblog.com.

Started in 2005, this website is dedicated to researching and exposing the public relations tricks and techniques used to befuddle the public about climate-change issues. It attracts more than 40,000 readers every month—people who are curious, confused, and sometimes angry as well. “I’ve always had a problem with people cheating on public-policy debate,” says Hoggan, “and when I learned about the misinformation campaign launched by industry front groups—especially being in the PR business—it really burned me. That’s how [the blog] started.”

As owner of PR firm James Hoggan & Associates, Hoggan is well accustomed to dealing with difficult public policy and communications issues. This debate, however, is much more far-reaching and systemic. His biggest complaint is that the naysaying experts often quoted in the media “don’t practise any science or publish in peer-reviewed journals. They’re not really qualified. Many are economists, and you can often trace money they receive from the energy sector. It really amazes me how these people are treated as objective scientists.

“Our job is to expose what they’re up to, so the public can have a better opportunity and be exposed to the real science.”