Draft Only – Not for Distribution

Memo

Prepared for: AAPG (and EMD, DEG, and DPA)

Prepared by: Jeremy Goodwin, P.H. International
Date:September 17, 2010

Subject:Preliminary Outline for an AAPG Radio and T.V. Production

(Working Title: Energy Mineral Resource World)

Background of Concept

In 2009 and early 2010, I co-hosted a talk-show on CBS Radio Houston concerned with subjects as diverse as local, sustainable agriculture and energy resources (with Mr. Richard Bost, Co-Chair, EMD-DEG Renewable Energy Committee), to discussions of uranium exploration and development of nuclear power (with Michael D. Campbell, Chair of the EMD Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) Committee), and of broadcasting microwave power generated on the Moon to electrical distribution centers on Earth (with Dr. David R. Criswell, Chief, Institute for Space Systems Operations, University of Houston). The three 1-hour discussions received substantial positive feedback from both the producers and listeners, with the comments referring to the clarity and depth with which the subjects were explored in the live interviews.

I understand that Mr. Campbell’s company associates (now I2M Associates, LLC) have been confronting anti-uranium mining sentiment by local and national media coverage since 2007 by providing independent reviews of the media articles on the corporate website, see link (here). He summarized these reviews in a recent presentation made to the Houston Geological Society’s Engineering and Environmental Group, see link (here), and confirmed that the general public is influenced by heavily biased, inaccurate articles by reporters who either are pandering to their readers to increase sales or are being used by other anti-nuclear interests who supply misleading or inaccurate information to the reporters.

There is a general sentiment that the public is mis-informed because of inadequate geoscience education during K through Grade 12 and even beyond through some colleges. The general public simply may have a conscious adversity to certain energy alternatives as a result impressions internalized from a wide range of media and other focused sources of information. Our approach here would be framed to exclude polarization by bringing the general public up to speed by educating them with outstanding information presenting all legitimate positions.

In subsequent discussions with Mr. Campbell, now EMD President, he suggested that with the appropriate controls in play and with control of the production, the AAPG may be interested in underwriting a program designed to get the word out to the general public on the geosciences involved in exploring for and producing energy and mineral resources in the U.S. and around the world today and in the foreseeable future (see: Based on his experience, and on that of Emeritus Professor John J.W. Rogers, the general public is in need of science-based information, especially relating to the energy and mineral resources available now and in the future. In the event that any particular discussion subject emerges withopposing positions, these different viewpoints would be introduced and managed to avoid the appearance of preaching to the general public.

Mission

As a result of the discussions with Mr. Campbell, I was asked to explore the feasibility and associated costs of an expanded series of programs produced and underwritten by the AAPG Foundation and associated funding. Based on the numerous potential guests available within AAPG, I evaluated the potentials based on my current knowledge of the industry in Houston.

Due to the plethora of subject matter as well as guests, the programming proposal is for an initial pilot season beginning with 13 one-hour programs produced over the first 4 months and then, if deemed successful by AAPG leadership and audience, the program would be expanded to a three-year program with each year producing three seasons of thirteen programs of one hour each and an annual double-length special, resulting in 40 one-hour programs/year. This would break-out as follows:

Initial-Scale Program / Full-Scale Program
4-Month Season = 13 programs.
4-Month = Pilot Season
Go-No Decision / 1 season = 13 programs.
1 year = 3 seasons
1 year = 39 programs + 1 special = 40 programs
3 years = (3 x 39) + (3 x 1) = 120 programs
3 years = 120 programs (126 hours of programming).

The proposed programming would involvediscussions (with opposing views) primarily focused on the geoscientistswho are involved in the exploration, development, and production of various types of hydrocarbon-based, carbon-based, nuclear-based, thermal-based energy resources, and in monitoring renewable energy and mineral resources available in the U.S. and around the world.

Objective and Goals

To explore the current and anticipated issues of energy and mineral geoscience in a public forum in a format similar to the popular Charlie Rose Show, now on Bloomberg Television and PBS, see: This would establish the program as a source of information for the general public in disseminating the AAPG message meeting the following goals:

  • To encourage qualified, knowledgeable individuals to discuss the concerns and issues facing geoscientists involved in exploration and development of their particular energy or mineral resources.
  • To establish the AAPG as a proactive source of geoscience information and associated discussions regarding the various sources of available energy and mineral commodities.
  • To provide the opinions of geoscientists without the constraints of, but consistent with, most energy and mineral companies.
  • To develop a revenue stream capable of covering the production costs and associated technical support, through sales of the programming and merchandising of the content, of AAPG reports and memoirs, and by offering selected advertising time (i.e., “partly sponsored by ______. ______, and ______”) to underwrite the AAPG programming.

Solution

  • To simultaneously record for radio and T.V (with graphics and field photos and videos from AAPG short courses and field trips because the geosciences are on the whole a visual science) with one-hour discussions between the host and one or two guests regarding the geoscience involved in particular energy or mineral resources. The discussion to be focused on current issues and associated environmental constraints, and short- and medium-term projections for the energy or mineral resource under discussion.
  • To work to establish national distribution for both radio and TV and to provide an archive for reference.
  • To co-develop with the AAPG a digital resource marketplace for program content (e.g., DVDs and other digital products).

Operations and Costs

The proposal is to shoot and record two programs in a single day with different guests but related topics to provide some continuity of narrative from episode to episode, and in the process, minimize the fixed production costs considerably. I have already initiated correspondence with National Public Radio and they have made positive responses, as has our local Houston-area Public Broadcasting Service affiliate.

I have simultaneously been discussing with two different production companies, and the City of Houston production facilities, the availability and costs of producing a single narrative show with the potential for editing and filling in the post-production to allow guests to modify responses to clarify particular points.

There are two recommended options for production facilities:

Option 1)Short-term rental of existing studio space and short contract personnel usually those associated with the production facility.

Informal estimates of the fixed costs for Option 1) is less than $12,000 per hour of programming (this is approximately 1/3rd the typical production cost). This is because I am familiar with the quality freelance people available in the Houston area and because I have good relations with the production facility personnel. The Pilot series would cost approximately $200,000 (which includes one-time start-up expenses, production-facility time, and producer costs).

Variable costs of production will be initially restricted to the cost of transporting and lodging guests and cannot be estimated at this time. Any on-location shooting or special post-production activities would also be included in the variable costs of production.

Option 2)Lease or purchase of a dedicated facility for production, with the option of making the operation available to outside sources to offset costs.

Informal estimates for Option 2), involves an initial investment of approximately $250,000, with the opportunity to develop the facility’s resources as a profit center as the programming is scaled up, if the decision is to move ahead, and therefore the per-episode costs would be reduced significantly. This solution would also provide the AAPG with the flexibility of scheduling guests and more importantly, a rapid-reaction facility, providing an immediate and flexible response to current events. With some modification, it could be used as a non-affiliated media production site for members in their interactions with the national and international press.

I recommend that thePilot (or Initial) Season be operated using established production facilities (Option 1), and that investment in dedicated space be determined by the success of the pilot program if the programming is scaled up.

Host

I have had considerable experience in the field of broadcasting, from both behind and in front of the microphone. My first exposure to geo-political concerns came from working for the British Department of Defense in the 1970s, where I was required to read the daily diplomatic analyses from British embassies and assess their possible strategic relevance. Continuing to travel widely over the last thirty-five years, I have been fortunate to explore the diversity of global conditions from the Arctic to the tropical rainforests on four continents.

I have been intermittently involved in the oil business, in the UK, Texas and Central and South America since the mid-seventies and continue to have a keen interest in the field. I am cognizant of the fact that the role of geoscientists (as opposed to the oil, natural gas and mineral companies who pay them) in the exploration and development of energy and mineral resources over the last 100 years has been largely unknown to the general public. Their crucial role in the exploration and development of the field both in the past and during the next 50 years is a subject that would benefit from a greater degree of awareness, both in the media and within the energyand mineraldevelopment fields.

I have written for magazines and newspapers in three countries and am presently working on two books for simultaneous publication with my own T.V. production, based on series of articles I wrote for a newspaper.

Potential Guests

I understand that potential guests for the program would be:

David H. Hawk, Current Chair, AAPG House of Delegates

Dr. Stephen A. Sonnenberg, Immediate Past Chair, AAPG House of Delegates

and other members of the AAPG House of Delegates

David G. Rensink, Current AAPG President

Dr. Paul Weimer, Current AAPG President-Elect

and other members of the AAPG Executive Committee

Dr. Scott W. Tinker, Past AAPG President

John C. Lorenz, Chair, AAPG, Advisory Council

and other members of the AAPG Advisory Council

Daniel J. Tearpock, Current President, AAPG Division of Professional Affairs

Paul W. Britt, Past President, AAPG Division of Professional Affairs

and other members of the DPA.

Patrick J. Gratton, Advisor, GEO-DC Governance Board

David Curtis, GEO-DC, Washington, DC

and other members of the Board

Michael D. Campbell, Current President, AAPG Energy Minerals Division

Stephen M. Testa, Current President-Elect, AAPG Energy Minerals Division

Kent Bowker, Current Treasurer, AAPG Energy Minerals Division

and Chairs of the EMD Commodity Committees of the EMD.

Mary K. Harris, Current President, AAPG Division of Environmental Geosciences

Douglas C. Peters, Current President-Elect, AAPG Division of Environmental Geosciences

and Committee Chairs of the DEG.

AAPG members of the Associated, Affiliated and Sister Societies of the AAPG and other guests nominated by any of the individuals indicated above.

Steps Forward

If you would like to discuss this matter further, let me know. If you would like to move forward in the planning of this venture, may I suggest that Mr. Campbell would be an asset in providing guidance to the program as co-producer as liaison with potential guests within AAPG and to monitor program activities during production. He has a good sense of balance in the program concept and is well founded in the energy industry and associated environmental issues. I understand he also works well with the members of the AAPG via his involvement in EMD, the DEG, and the AAPG Advisory Council. He advised me that in addition to AAPG Foundation and other AAPG officers, the DPA officers and David Curtis of the GEO-DC Office in Washington, DC should also be involved in the planning and possible execution of this venture, if formed. Additional input could also be gained from the AIPG, the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), and other sister and affiliated professional societies.

I look forward to being involved in this interesting project. This memo is only a preliminary assessment to determine the feasibility and interest in the program concept. A detailed proposal would likely consist of more than 20 pages as part of any agreement to move forward on this project.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Goodwin

Principal
P.H. International

832-724-4178

Page 1