Despite a severe increase in extreme weather, the amount of news coverage mentioning climate change when reporting on disasters such as hurricanes, fires, and floods has fallen significantly in recent years. According to Grist, global media coverage of climate change has dropped 38 percent in the last 5 years.
Almost half of Americans get their news from television, yet major news outlets fail to name the connection between extreme weather events and climate change.
News outlets play a critical role in informing us about current events and shaping our understanding of what's happening in the world around us. Perhaps even more important, they help us understand why things are happening, and what can be done.
When major news outlets fail to name the connection between extreme weather events and climate change, it has real world consequences. When people don't see climate coverage on the news, the issue becomes less present and it can be difficult to engage public support for policy change.
Big Oil has known for decades that burning fossil fuels threatens our future, while doing everything they can to keep raking in their profits. They've pushed news outlets to keep the climate crisis out of the media, and squash coverage of their responsibility for it. Now, they've bought an ally in the Trump administration, as it pressures the media and other institutions to fall in line.
Responsible journalism must tell the truth about what's driving unnatural disasters and cover the facts, not corporate propaganda.
Will you ask media CEOs and news editors to ensure their coverage of storms, heat waves, and other unnatural disasters connects the dots to climate change?
Adding a personal message makes a big difference! Have you experienced negative effects from climate change? Please add a sentence or two about your experience to make your letter more powerful.
