The Media

If you keep up on current events, you cannot help but hear the discussion about the Media. The daily back and forth regarding good news, bad news, and false news seems to infiltrate nearly every aspect of our lives and every sort of happening. The idea of the media being an “enemy” is not a new idea and, as a public agency engineer, I have listened to fellow engineers for nearly a half-century express their concerns about talking to the media and their experiences with the media. Since how engineers look to the rest of the “world” is important to our profession, and since various forms of media pass on messages about engineering and our work, it is important, I think, how PEs see the media, and in turn how the media sees us.

Dennis Randolph, P.E.
Grandview, MO

Stop worrying about the daily banter from the talking heads, and focus on things that can make a difference… from improving your knowledge and service to your customers or, when you next have a free moment to imbibe on the news, write a letter to the editor instead, and ask—and offer—the best questions and solutions that may make a difference in your short time in the greatest country on this great planet earth.

Thomas Petracca, P.E.
Smithtown, NY

The free press is not our enemy. If they do a poor job of writing about engineering, we have a job to hold them accountable and help them understand. The erosion of the free press is disturbing. Problems exist in all walks of life but that doesn’t mean we get rid of the free press because they, too, have problems. They have uncovered a lot of wrongdoing and we, as a nation, are better for it.

As an aside, I began using Media Bias Fact Check to aid in vetting sources. Is it flawless? No. It’s pretty good though from what I have learned on my own.

Pam Quillin, P.E.
Erie, CO

The Value of the License

One important/critical aspect of PE Day is to raise public awareness on the value that licensed professional engineers bring to overall public health, safety, and welfare. An excellent example was discussed in the PE magazine article “Hidden Dangers,” which addressed design safety considerations, or lack thereof, in amusement park rides. More recently, indications are that the recent duck boat tragedy in Branson, Missouri, was a result of vessel modifications that were performed by a nonengineer in an apparent violation of US Coast Guard policy on such modifications, which are required to be done by licensed professional engineers.

Explaining the importance of licensure to the public for things like bridges and tall buildings is fairly easy. Explaining the need for licensure in other practice areas, such as the two examples above illustrate, less so.

So, NSPE members, what specific examples can you give that illustrate the value that the engineering license provides or can provide in your given engineering practice area? Please add your comments and suggestions in the Open Forum thread “Protecting Public Health, Safety and Welfare – Examples” at https://community.nspe.org.

Tim Austin, P.E., F.NSPE
Wichita, KS