10 August 2014

Is WDYTYA really reducing global climate impact?

According to the masthead of Who Do You Think You Are magazine, Wall to Wall, the producer of WDYTYA? claim that the television series is "committed to reducing its carbon emissions and has signed up to 10:10 (www.1010global.org). This has involved hiring more local crews and taking fewer flights while continuing to make a series that goes to wherever the story leads."

As a former atmospheric scientist firmly convinced that by our actions we are increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is leading to climate change, it was encouraging to see the company committment to reduce its carbon emissions by 10% a year.

It did however make me think again about the company using a Utah-based genealogist as an expert at the Ottawa City Archives in the most recent episode of the US program. Was there really nobody closer to hand who could have done about as good a job? Or is perhaps the environmental commitment is only made for the UK operation?
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3 comments:

  1. M. Diane Rogers10 August, 2014 10:51

    Or flying at least 2 people all the way to Plymouth, England to look at an 'official' marriage registration. Much easier just to order on-line...

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  2. Barbara T.10 August, 2014 11:56

    Re: ordering the certificate. I'd like to see a show that is done more like the ordinary person would have to do it - ordering certificates on-line and researching on their own without the help of experts pulling records for them in advance and researching for them while they galavant around the world. Might not sell the show or genealogy to the masses but it might give a more realistic view of the hobby.

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  3. Dave10 August, 2014 19:48


    Yes, they could have ordered the marriage certificate online instead of actually going to the UK, but it doesn't make for good television. Same with the experts they visit - nobody walks into a library to find a genealogist waiting for them with a key document, but it helps tells the story. Genealogists all seem to want WDYTYA to be a genealogy how-to show.
    WDYTYA is simply not meant to be a genealogy how-to show. It is meant to get people interested in their own genealogy. My recommendation is to sit back and enjoy the show for what it is.

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