- A study has found that TV news coverage of climate change lacks people of color as guests in climate segments, a new analysis found, despite communities of color bearing the most impact from climate change.
- The analysis also found a lack of segments discussing climate justice, which refers to climate change’s disproportionate impact on diverse and low-income communities.
- The decline in coverage is attributed to factors such as the rise of partisan media, the perception that climate change is a politicized issue, and a lack of newsroom resources.
- The study also found that coverage of climate change is often framed in a way that fails to convey the urgency and severity of the issue, with a focus on isolated events rather than the larger picture.
- Experts warn that the decline in coverage could have serious consequences for public understanding of climate change and the political will to address it.
By USA TODAY | March 10, 2023
Television news lacks people of color as guests in climate segments, a new analysis found, despite communities of color bearing the most impact from climate change.
Media Matters, a nonprofit media watchdog organization, released its annual analysis on Feb. 28 on how broadcast news organizations covered climate change last year.
While climate change coverage on television news increased for a second consecutive year, it accounted for just 1% of corporate broadcast segments in 2022, according to the study, which analyzed climate coverage from ABC, CBS, NBCÂ and Fox…
The analysis also found a lack of segments discussing climate justice, which refers to climate change’s disproportionate impact on front-line communities, as well as their lack of contribution to factors that drive a warming climate, such as fossil fuels.
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