Interview Skills and Writing the Lede: Multiple Perspectives on EPA Chemical Regulations
Overview
This assignment demonstrates interview skills and lede writing by presenting three contrasting perspectives on the EPA's regulation banning five harmful chemicals from consumer products. The paper captures interviews with an EPA administrator supporting the ban, a chemical industry representative opposing it, and an environmental advocacy director supporting stricter measures, culminating in a professionally written news lede.
What this coursework covers
- Interview 1 with EPA Administrator Lisa Stewart on chemical ban rationale
- Interview 2 with American Chemistry Council spokesperson on industry opposition
- Interview 3 with environmental advocacy director supporting stronger action
- Lede paragraph synthesizing the regulatory announcement for news publication
Preview
JO – Assignment 9 – Interview Skills and Writing The Lede
Interview 1
- Lisa Stewart, an administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Lisa announced the illegalization of manufacturing, importing, or adding five harmful chemicals to consumer products.
- The chemicals are dangerous to human health.
- The move aims to protect the public from adverse health effects from the five chemicals.
- The consumer products include cookware and makeup.
- The five chemicals most affected are PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, and PFNA, which are all dangerous to human health.
Interview 2
- Rochelle Rogers is a spokeswoman for the American Chemistry Council, a group that represents major chemical companies.
- The American Chemistry Council opposes these new rules because they show the government at its worst.
- It is based on a misunderstanding of science, and the chemicals are depended on for many applications that are vital for the public.
- Banning them will make many consumer products expensive.
- The regulation will be a harsh law on the economy.
- Some of the chemicals are environmentally friendly, and the council notes that environmentalists are fearmongers.
Interview 3
- Kyla Bennet is the director of science policy at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy group based in Washington.
- The groups support the move by EPA, noting that the move should have been taken years ago.
- Many people have lost their lives due to these cancer-causing chemicals.
- In fact, the group recommends that more chemicals should have been banned, not just five of them.