Deserai Anderson Crow

Using the Narrative Policy Framework to Understand Stakeholder Strategy and Effectiveness: A Multi-Case Analysis

Understanding stakeholder strategies and effectiveness are key components in an analysis of policy change and policy coalition dynamics. The narrative policy framework (NPF) provides a mechanism for systematically analyzing these elements of the policy process. Using a multi-case study of stakeholder communication in environmental policy making, this study analyzes stakeholder narrative strategy, effectiveness, and framing of winners and losers. This chapter empirically tests several NPF meso-level hypotheses using a multi-case research design, a methodological approach new to NPF research. This research design moves beyond single-case analysis of narratives by varying cases by policy issues (water supply and energy), policy venues (legislation versus regulation), and policy positions (policy winners and losers).

Stakeholder behavior and legislative influence: A case study of recreational water rights in Colorado

Abstract Colorado water law is based on 150 years of legal, constitutional, and administrative precedent. Much of this precedent encourages traditional consumptive uses of water and impedes non-consumptive uses. Throughout Colorado’s history, the water law system has evolved to include new codified uses of water. This paper analyzes the behavior of stakeholder groups that drove legislative changes in the Colorado General Assembly in the most recent example of this evolution—the inclusion of non-consumptive recreational in-channel water rights as a codified use of water. Using a qualitative case study research method, this study finds that collaboration among formerly disenfranchised stakeholders explains their legislative success despite the lesser degree of influence these groups have over water rights in Colorado.

Local Science Reporting Relies on Generalists, Not Specialists

This study surveys Colorado reporters to examine the state of local science and environmental journalism. Despite budget cuts and the loss of specialist reporters, local news outlets continue to cover science and the environment with generalists.

Wildfire Outreach and Citizen Entrepreneurs in the Wildland–Urban Interface: A Cross-Case Analysis in Colorado

Due to rapid growth in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the risk to lives and property from wildfires is increasing in the western United States. While previous studies have identified factors that influence residents’ perceptions of wildfire risk and responsibility for mitigation, less research has been conducted on how mitigation information is disseminated to residents or the most effective strategies for doing so. During an examination of two case studies of catastrophic wildfires in Colorado, an important actor involved in wildfire outreach emerged that we label the citizen entrepreneur. Citizen entrepreneurs are highly motivated community members who can help resource-constrained wildfire agencies encourage mitigation on private property by directly engaging with WUI residents. Using data from interviews with wildfire professionals and focus groups with residents, this research note introduces the concept of citizen entrepreneurs and provides an initial examination of the important role they can play in wildfire outreach.

Evaluating Informational Inputs in Rulemaking Processes: A Cross-Case Analysis

As legislative venues are increasingly stymied by gridlock, much policymaking responsibility has devolved to the U.S. states. This article analyzes informational inputs and participation by actors within the rulemaking context, focusing on the level of state rulemaking. Specifically, we explore the rulemaking process in Colorado and North Carolina in two environmental sectors. Using data from documents and in-depth interviews, this study finds that goals of deliberative and open regulatory processes are not met in the cases studied here, in part due to informal pre-hearing processes established by agencies which can be navigated most successfully by the regulated community.

Environmental rulemaking across states: Process, procedural access, and regulatory influence:

Rulemaking is central to policymaking in the United States. Additionally, regulatory authority is devolved to the states in many instances. However, our knowledge of state-level rulemaking is not as advanced as that related to federal rulemaking. To advance the scholarship on state rulemaking, this study compares environmental rulemaking across three environmental issues (renewable portfolio standards, concentrated animal feeding operation regulations, and hydraulic fracturing disclosure rules) in five states (California, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania) to understand procedural and stakeholder participation commonalities among the cases. Using data from public rulemaking documents, stakeholder comment during rulemaking, and in-depth interviews with agency staff and stakeholders, the findings suggest that there are common patterns of pre-process informal stakeholder consultation, public comment and outreach mechanisms, and corollary issues related to stakeholder access across these cases. These findings advance our knowledge of state-level rulemaking as it relates to public input and procedural equity for stakeholders.

Teaching Millennials to engage THE environment instead of THEIR environment: A pedagogical analysis

ABSTract This article examines the difficulty in teaching contemporary students of journalism (those in the much-discussed Millennial Generation) to report on complex topics like science and the environment. After examining contemporary literature, the authors subjected 120 undergraduate students to a strategy that combined visual representations of abstract concepts, media texts, and experiential peer interactions. The results indicate positive outcomes on comprehension and demonstrations of critical analysis from this pedagogical approach.

Policy Diffusion and Innovation: Media and Experts in Colorado Recreational Water Rights

Abstract Beginning in 1998, an innovation in water rights policy took place in Colorado. This paper analyses the diffusion of the recreational in-channel water right policy innovation among Colorado communities. This research involved in-depth case studies in 12 Colorado communities. Data include interviews, legal and legislative documents, and mass media coverage. These new water rights spread among Colorado communities through two processes. First, experts acted as information entrepreneurs providing both technical and policy information to other communities. Through repetitive journalistic sourcing, media coverage spread the influence and reputation of certain experts who then influenced internal policy decisions in subsequent communities.

News Coverage and Access to Contextual Policy Information in the Case of Recreational Water Rights in Colorado

Local news media help shape the agendas from which new policies emerge. Furthermore, local media help determine public understanding of complex issues. Media should inform citizens and policymakers on important policy issues. This study uses a content analysis of 11 newspapers to understand the manner in which reporters covered a specific environmental policy issue in Colorado. Findings indicate that news coverage did not provide local readers with contextual information important in forming policy opinions. These findings support mass communication and policy scholarship on the limitations of local media in adequately informing citizens and policymakers.