Coal miner photographed on the job near Richlands, Virginia, in 1974. Jack Corn/Environmental Protection Agency April 25, 2018 Invoking noble coal miners is a mainstay of American politics Lou Martin, Chatham University In the abstract, this near-mythic figure represents bravery, hard work and manliness.
Emmanuel Macron, president of France, gestures during a special address in Davos, Switzerland. AP Photo/Markus Schreiber January 25, 2018 Macron’s pledge to wipe out coal is just as meaningless as Trump’s plan to revive it Jay L. Zagorsky, The Ohio State University The French president said he would eliminate all coal-fired plants in his country by 2021, while his US counterpart is pushing policies intended to make them more profitable. Either way, the laws of economics will win.
A political sign in West Virginia reflects the claim that the Obama administration, by developing policies to reduce carbon emission, was waging a campaign against the industry. Vicki Smith/AP Photo January 9, 2017 Inside the coal industry’s rhetorical playbook Steve Schwarze, University of Montana; Jennifer Peeples, Utah State University; Jen Schneider, Boise State University, and Pete Bsumek, James Madison University Scholars of communications pick apart the rhetoric behind the ‘war on coal’ and explain why it ultimately benefits the coal industry.