UKH

EDITORS SUMMIT: TOPIC TWO: The media's role in promoting mountain ethics and style.

This week is the American Alpine Club International Climbing Editors Summit.

UKClimbing.com Editor Jack Geldard is there with climbing editors from around the globe discussing climbing media topics. (see NEWS ITEM:http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/older.html?month=10&year=2008#n45366)

We will be publishing some of the topics they will be discussing in our forums so that you, if you wish, can join the debate.

TOPIC ONE: Climbing news in the Internet age. is here: http://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?t=324173

This is TOPIC TWO: The media's role in promoting mountain ethics and style.

At the American Alpine Journal we try to make a careful distinction between “style” and “ethics” in mountaineering:

Our “ethics” guide us in how we affect other people and the environment; our “style” defines how we like to play our climbing games, for personal reasons—light or slow, free or aid, single-push or bivouac, pink pants or brown.

Some questions.

Where are the boundaries between style and ethics?

How do these vary between countries?

What role do journalists play in promoting ethics or pushing style?

How should we publish climbs that we feel were done unethically?

questions set by: John Harlin III

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

Interesting I usually bind the two up because of the interelationship between the two. The definition you've given seems a bit unusual as if its dictating some angle here.

Dictionary definition:

Ethics - a set of moral principles
Style - the manner in which something is done.

Qs

Q.Where are the boundaries between style and ethics?

Ethics are a thought process which may dictate a preferred style of climbing. The boundary is between thought and action.

Q.How do these vary between countries?

As widely as diffrent religious beliefs not just between countries but within them as well

Q. What role do journalists play in promoting ethics or pushing style?

By influencing opinion, supporting different ethics and style by the level of coverage or stated opinions

Q. How should we publish climbs that we feel were done unethically?

Truthfully and acknowledging your bias when making judgements

In reply to Simon Lee: Thanks Simon, I'm just passing your thoughts on to the meeting now.

Jack

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:
Say hello to my Dad who might be sat next to you !
cheers Dan

In reply to Dan Goodwin: Hello to Steve from me too!

In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:

What role do journalists play in promoting ethics or pushing style?

They play a huge part in the promtion of ethics and climbing 'styles'. Take for example, urbanclimber from the US. They are very much a bouldering and sport climbing magazine, with a dedicated audience of boulderers and sport climbers. Whilst such specialisation undoubtedly helps push advances in the various styles, it could also be argued that it also hinders climbing in general.

Take for example, someone new to climbing who sees all the flashy images from a magazine like urbanclimber, they may immediately assume that this is the real face of modern day climbing (and to some it is!), and may well be lead down a path which ignores the noble history of true adeventurous climbing from years gone by. The same could be said about indoor walls, in that they don't educate new climbers in the traditions and history of what is an ultimately risky and adventurous pass time.

Now that surely would be a shame!