Ripped from the Headlines: Shilling for Drilling Update

A few months ago, we delivered a commentary on transparency in the hydraulic fracturing, “fracking,” controversy. We came down hard on Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania, and his undisclosed role shilling for an energy company with hydrofracking/natural gas interests and the public’s right to know the truths, untruths, paid content and paid consultants. Many of our colleagues would agree the issue is a perfect case study in media relations, public relations, corporate reputation management and social responsibility. We believed then, as we do now, it is much more than how you spin, spit out and savor the message. It is an issue that shakes the ethics of our profession and stirs the core of our passions: public safety, the environment and a healthy economy.

Since our earlier post, as several states issue drilling bans and moratoriums or, to the contrary, launch repeals and rejections of drilling bans and moratoriums; there’s been a fracking-related explosion in West Virginia, a fracking-related spill in Michigan and the national premiere of Gasland II, a follow-up to Josh Fox’s Oscar-nominated documentary Gasland.

Today we’re making our own headlines and asking you to embark on a journey of an unfiltered study of hydraulic fracturing. Whether or not you stand on the side of economic and energy benefits or the side of environmental and health detriments, it is too important an issue to be shrouded in the mystery of paid undercover influence peddlers, industry strong-arm tactics and/or non-disclosures.