Why is the US news media so bad at covering climate change?

[Judi Lynn]

Why is the US news media so bad at covering climate change?
The US news media devotes startlingly little time to climate change – how can newsrooms cover it in ways that will finally resonate with their audiences?

Kyle Pope and Mark Hertsgaard

Mon 22 Apr 2019 11.59 EDT

Last summer, during the deadliest wildfire season in California’s history, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes got into a revealing Twitter discussion about why US television doesn’t much cover climate change. Elon Green, an editor at Longform, had tweeted, “Sure would be nice if our news networks – the only outlets that can force change in this country – would cover it with commensurate urgency.” Hayes (who is an editor at large for the Nation) replied that his program had tried. Which was true: in 2016, All In With Chris Hayes spent an entire week highlighting the impact of climate change in the US as part of a look at the issues that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were ignoring. The problem, Hayes tweeted, was that “every single time we’ve covered [climate change] it’s been a palpable ratings killer. So the incentives are not great.”

The Twittersphere pounced. “TV used to be obligated to put on programming for the public good even if it didn’t get good ratings. What happened to that?” asked @JThomasAlbert. @GalJaya said, “Your ‘ratings killer’ argument against covering #climatechange is the reverse of that used during the 2016 primary when corporate media justified gifting Trump $5 billion in free air time because ‘it was good for ratings,’ with disastrous results for the nation.”

When @mikebaird17 urged Hayes to invite Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University, one of the best climate science communicators around, on to his show, she tweeted that All In had canceled on her twice – once when “I was literally in the studio w[ith] the earpiece in my ear” – and so she wouldn’t waste any more time on it.

“Wait, we did that?” Hayes tweeted back. “I’m very very sorry that happened.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/22/why-is-the-us-news-media-so-bad-at-covering-climate-change

[IndyOp]

1. Hayes is a decent guy - he'll listen and try new approaches.

His show with AOC was excellent because he brought in a variety of experts who could comment on different aspects of the crisis.

I am starting to fantasize about Chris and Rachel teaming up - one solid piece on the crisis every week on every MSNBC show would be a start.

[LonePirate]

2. American media is addicted to "both sides-ism" which neutered truth telling about climate change.

If the media takes the correct view by science and the left, the right will start howling because they are opposed to the truth. If the media adopts the talking points of the right, they immediately become deniers and factually wrong. So the media straddles the fence and delivers horrible coverage.

[abqtommy]

3. The US news media is corrupt

just like their owners.

[Duppers]

4. Rating. People don't want to hear this kind of...

Bad news. They want no personal responsibility for changing their lifestyles in any way.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. All about Ad Dollars and Profits.

Need a example,remember how the Andrus Family jacked up PBS after their reporting of price rigging by ADM.

That set the Bar on investigative reporting and lack there of. Tried to watch that so call 60 minutes wet kiss last night. What a serious joke of a report. Lot's of Camera shots of Stahl from different angles,but that was it,just a wet kiss to Donnie of Stupid.

[DemocracyMouse]

6. Grass roots people, grass roots

Grass roots organizations (like DU) must be the leaders on all unfamiliar topics. Presumably, such organizations operate on the basis of conscience, not ratings.

However, it does seem that older progressives are less aware of the seriousness of climate change and how it is hurting crops, shorelines and impoverished communities.

Maybe DU's editors will pick up this post?

[DemocracyMouse]

7. DU members: how about some "recs" on this post...

....or maybe DU's editors can give it an endorsement? Show 'em we're not as oblivious to global warming as the mainstream?

[2naSalit]

8. Paid not to...nt

[BlueWI]

9. Great question.

Bothsiderism is a big part of the problem.