Overview
How has news coverage of climate change in the US shaped policy-maker and public responses to the issue? How can journalistic norms be modified or administered differently when reporting climate change science? How can ownership and market pressures be harnessed to ensure better coverage of the issue? How can people working in news media be provided with better access to credible scientists or intermediaries? Project Participants are addressing these and other issues to ensure that the news coverage on climate change reflects scientific realities.
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6 comments
May 31st, 2006 at 8:58 am
Chris Galvin
Here are some great examples of online, interactive climate change science communication tools developed by news media organizations:
In “Making Sense of Global Warming”, USA Today has combined interactive tools with a series of articles about the future impacts of global warming for the U.S., including an article about the Everglades: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2006-05-30-everglades-globalwarming_x.htm
and a piece about how our changing climate will affect sports: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2006-05-30-sports-globalwarming_x.htm
I also encourage you to look at the BBC’s Guide to Climate Change: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/climate.stm
June 7th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Nancy Anderson & Michael Bobker
The News Media chapter of Climate Change and Action provides a pointed diagnosis of what is ailing us. Andrew Revkin also diagnosed these problems in a talk at the New York Academy of Sciences in which he discussed the challenges he’s faced in reporting on environmental problems for The New York Times. Some challenges relate to the intrinsic scientific complexity of the issues; others arise from the structure of the news media and the nature of news itself.
Mr. Revkin’s insights are captured in the Academy’s eBriefing, “The Daily Planet: Why the Media Stumble Over the Environment”. To read it go to http://www.nyas.org/ebriefreps/main.asp?intEBriefID=251.
For additional dialogue on climate change co-sponsored by the Academy and the Sallan Foundation, go to http://www.sallan.org/
Nancy E. Anderson, Executive Director, The Sallan Foundation, and Michael Bobker, Chair, Environmental Sciences Section, New York Academy of Sciences.
June 8th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Richard
I find it encouraging and gratifying to hear that a reporter such as Mr. Revkin is sharing insights about science reporting, an issue in great need of attention. The briefing that Ms. Anderson and Mr. Bobker direct us to sounds insightful and important and I would very much like to read it. Is there a way to access it without purchasing a membership in the NY Academy of Sciences?
(I did try creating a free account but that does not provide access to the articles.)
It occured to me, too, that this points to a larger question of how can we open up conversations about climate change to the widest possible audiences.
October 31st, 2006 at 9:47 am
Samuel Missimer
I am interested in any first-hand accounts of difficulty obtaining coverage in local press outlets.
I’ve run into this with a 27 year-old environmental festival, which - once we placed our focus entirely on the issue - noticed a distinct reluctance from our (nationally owned) local press, especially on directly related matters (city signing Kyoto).
I try not to be discouraged, but also cannot discount the deliberate marginalization of environmental activists (eco-terrorists) and the influence of those big national advertising dollars.
Has anyone had any similar experiences?
Sam Missimer
Design Ideas Group
February 16th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Joe Witte
Re: Andy Revkiin’s great article in the NYTimes: send me your email address and I will send you a copy. Andy makes some very good observations about the challenges of press coverage.
Joe Witte
joewitttewx@yahoo.com
March 7th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Karen Core
FYI — if one visits the Sallan Foundation web site — there’s free access to the New York Academy of Sciences content co-sponsored by Sallan. http://www.sallan.org/