{"id":2106894,"date":"2023-11-24T05:28:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T10:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/welcome-to-the-future-of-climate-coverage-where-the-journalists-are-the-activists\/"},"modified":"2023-11-24T05:31:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T10:31:52","slug":"welcome-to-the-future-of-climate-coverage-where-the-journalists-are-the-activists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/welcome-to-the-future-of-climate-coverage-where-the-journalists-are-the-activists\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the Future of Climate Coverage: Journalists as Activists"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwelcome-to-the-future-of-climate-coverage-where-the-journalists-are-the-activists%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2106894&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>In late \u2062September, \u2064Covering Climate Now co-founder Mark \u2064Hertsgaard kicked off a two-day \u2063media\u200c conference\u2063 with a powerful call to action.<\/h2>\n<p>Hertsgaard emphasized that climate \u200dchange is not just a problem or crisis, \u200dbut an emergency that demands relentless, round-the-clock coverage.\u200d He drew a \u200dparallel to the COVID pandemic, \u200chighlighting the\u200c urgent attention it \u2064received from the press.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We know how to \u2062cover emergencies\u2014we cover them\u2062 a lot. \u2026 We saw that during \u2064COVID, right?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>During the COVID\u200d pandemic, the media strictly\u200d controlled its coverage based \u2063on expert guidance. Any suggestion that the virus leaked\u2062 from a lab, which\u2064 is now considered the most\u2063 likely scenario, was dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Those\u200b who questioned the effectiveness of \u200cpaper masks or the\u2062 impact of remote learning were scorned. Even the scientist who pioneered \u200cmRNA vaccines faced ridicule and abuse before\u2064 eventually winning the \u200cNobel\u2064 Prize in medicine.<\/p>\n<p>For \u2064Mark Hertsgaard, this \u200dis \u200cnot just\u200d a story of\u200d journalistic \u200btriumph, but a\u2063 template for covering global \u200bwarming. He now dedicates his\u200d time to \u2064guiding other journalists on how to approach \u2063climate reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Covering \u200dClimate Now \u2062aims to integrate climate coverage into every aspect of\u2064 newsrooms. \u200dIts partners include major TV networks and print \u2064publications, such\u2062 as ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Time, \u200bHuffPost, and Vox. The\u200d initiative is supported\u200d by liberal foundations like the Rockefeller Family Fund and the David and\u2063 Lucile Packard\u200c Foundation.<\/p>\n<p>The conference \u2062itself, held \u2063at\u2062 the \u2064prestigious Columbia \u2064Journalism School, showcased the blurred line between climate journalism and climate activism. While featuring interviews with climate activists, the majority of panels and speeches were led \u200cby journalists from prominent outlets \u2062like NBC, CBS, and Time. \u200dThese journalists echoed Hertsgaard&#8217;s call to action, emphasizing that climate change is a do-or-die issue that transcends traditional industry norms.<\/p>\n<p>Some panelists argued that climate coverage should \u200cbe seamlessly integrated into \u200bevery story. However, they seemed unaware of publications like\u200d The New York Times,\u2064 which has \u200dalready highlighted the\u2063 impact of climate change on summer camps and mental health. CNN even warned\u200c of a potential\u200b tequila shortage caused by climate change.<\/p>\n<p>During a panel on &#8220;Climate\u2063 Change And The 2024 \u200bElections,&#8221; journalists from\u200c Time, Telemundo, and CBS News rejected\u2064 the idea of presenting facts for viewers to\u2063 make their own judgments. \u2062Instead, they advocated for\u2063 the press \u200dto \u200bovercome their\u200b fears of advocating for \u2064one political party over another. They argued that climate change is too urgent to risk \u2064another election\u2063 victory for\u200c Republicans.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s unrealistic\u200c to think that you can just approach it\u200d from a clinical, scientific point of \u2063view\u2014here are the facts, everybody&#8217;s going to make up their own minds,&#8221;\u2064 said \u2062former CBS News vice president Al Ortiz. &#8220;The fact is that if you have \u200dthe Republican Party take over\u200d both the executive branch and legislative\u2063 branches of governments, you&#8217;re going\u2062 to stop climate change policy in the government for five \u200byears.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Throughout the conference, panelists criticized the Republican Party for spreading climate misinformation \u200band disinformation. Ironically, some of these panelists themselves used misinformation to \u2063defend the limitations of green energy and other climate-focused solutions.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Time&#8217;s\u2062 Justin Worland claimed it was misinformation\u2063 to suggest that green energy leads to higher prices for American families. \u2064However,\u2062 President \u2063Joe Biden&#8217;s\u200b Energy Department \u2062has acknowledged that clean electricity\u2062 is significantly \u200dmore expensive than natural gas.\u200c Green\u2063 developments \u2064in New\u200c Jersey are expected to increase\u2064 energy rates by 10 to 20 percent.<\/p>\n<p>The conference also featured an interview \u2064with\u2064 former United \u2064Nations climate\u2064 official Christiana Figueres, who downplayed the mineral requirements of green energy compared to oil and \u2062gas production. In reality, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-unveils-2030-target-of-50-electric-vehicles\/\" title=\"Biden unveils 2030 target of 50% electric vehicles\">electric vehicles require<\/a> six\u2063 times more \u2064minerals than gas-powered cars, and onshore wind plants require nine times more minerals than gas-fired plants.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that Covering Climate Now&#8217;s media partners \u200dmay not report these facts. According\u2064 to their\u2062 blueprint, green \u2064energy&#8217;s\u200b shortcomings and the experts \u200dwho highlight them should \u2063not be \u2063given a \u200dplatform. The press should ignore those \u200bwho argue in favor of oil and gas.<\/p>\n<p>Covering Climate\u200b Now hailed the conference as a resounding success, with hundreds of journalists attending. Even those who couldn&#8217;t attend can incorporate the group&#8217;s practices into their coverage. The organization&#8217;s\u2063 website provides reporting guides, including\u200b story ideas, questions \u2063for politicians and\u200c companies, \u2064and suggested language \u200cfor journalists to use. These guides assert\u2062 that there is no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-repeats-false-claim-about-ar-15-bullet-velocity-in-call-for-ban\/\" title=\"Biden Repeats False Claim About AR-15 Bullet Velocity In Call For Ban\">good-faith argument<\/a> against the urgent\u2064 need for action on climate\u2063 change and that \u2064any extreme weather \u2064story should mention climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Based\u2064 on \u200cthe \u2063member roster and speaker lineup, it&#8217;s clear that most mainstream media outlets support Covering Climate\u2064 Now&#8217;s climate coverage revolution. Journalists who don&#8217;t should take \u2063note\u200b of Amy Goodman, founder of Democracy Now!, who issued a \u200bwarning to any detractors during the\u200d conference.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We have \u2064to make it unacceptable for journalists\u2014even general\u200b political journalists\u2014to not ask these questions,&#8221; she \u200csaid.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can journalists strike \u200ca balance between advocacy\u200b and objective reporting when \u2062covering\u200c climate change \u2062to ensure accurate and reliable information is provided to the public<\/h2>\n<p><span>  To \u200chigher energy\u2062 costs. \u200cHe argued that the cost \u200dof wind \u2062and solar power has decreased significantly in\u200b recent years, making them more cost-effective alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>This statement, though partially \u200btrue, ignores the fact \u2064that the\u2064 implementation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/outdated-solar-panels-wind-turbines-electric-car-batteries-will-clog-landfills-with-hazardous-waste-according-to-new-report\/\" title=\"Outdated Solar Panels, Wind Turbines, Electric Car Batteries Will Clog Landfills With Hazardous Waste According To New Report\">renewable energy sources<\/a> often requires extensive infrastructure upgrades and initial investment, which can lead to higher energy costs\u200c in the short term. Additionally, Worland failed to \u2064mention that the intermittent\u2062 nature of wind and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/welcome-to-the-future-of-climate-coverage-where-the-journalists-are-the-activists\/\" title=\"Introducing the Future of Climate Coverage: Journalists as Activists\">solar power necessitates backup power sources<\/a>, such as\u200b natural\u200c gas, \u200bincreasing overall energy costs.<\/p>\n<p>While the intention of the\u200c conference was to \u200cpromote robust \u2062climate\u200d coverage, it\u200d is crucial \u2064to ensure \u2063that accurate information is provided to the public.\u2062 Misleading\u2062 narratives and selective\u200b presentation of facts \u200bonly serve to \u200cundermine the credibility of \u200cclimate journalism and hinder\u200d genuine\u200d efforts to address climate change.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u200dit is noteworthy that many journalists at the conference recognized \u2063the importance of their role in advocating for climate action.\u200d They acknowledged \u200bthe \u200cneed \u200dto move beyond the traditional objective reporting and embrace a \u2063more proactive approach\u200b to combat the urgency of\u2064 climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, climate change\u200b is not just a scientific matter; it is a multifaceted issue that intersects with various aspects of society, including politics, economics, and public health. Journalists have a responsibility to inform \u2063the public\u200c and spark meaningful discussions on the actions needed to mitigate the impact of global \u200dwarming.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d conference served \u200das \u2064a platform for journalists to \u200bexchange ideas and strategies on how\u200d to integrate climate reporting into their respective newsrooms effectively. It emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis and urged\u2064 journalists to prioritize comprehensive climate coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Recognizing\u2063 the power of the media \u200cin shaping public opinion and driving policy decisions, \u200cinitiatives\u2062 like Covering Climate Now play a vital role in facilitating collaboration among media organizations and promoting accurate and impactful climate reporting.<\/p>\n<p>In \u2064conclusion, the\u2064 conference \u200dled \u200bby Mark Hertsgaard \u200cand organized by Covering Climate Now underscored the critical role of \u2063the media \u2064in addressing the climate emergency. It emphasized \u200bthe\u2063 need for relentless, round-the-clock coverage of climate change, drawing parallels to the response \u2064to the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>However, while the conference aimed to promote climate coverage,\u2062 it is crucial to \u200bavoid misinformation and ensure \u200caccurate \u200breporting. Journalists\u2062 must strike a balance\u200c between\u2064 advocacy and objective\u2064 reporting, providing\u2063 the\u200c public with comprehensive and\u200c reliable information.<\/p>\n<p>The conference highlighted\u200c the blurred line between climate\u2062 journalism and activism, with journalists \u200crecognizing the importance of advocating for \u200cclimate \u2064action. It\u2062 showcased \u2063the commitment\u2062 of media organizations and \u2063journalists in integrating climate coverage into their reporting and amplifying the urgency of the climate crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, \u2063it is imperative for journalists to uphold the \u2062principles of accuracy and \u200dfairness while reporting\u200d on \u200cclimate change. \u2064By providing well-researched, balanced, \u200cand impactful coverage,\u2062 the media can play a\u2062 crucial role in raising awareness and driving the necessary actions\u2062 to combat the climate emergency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In September, Mark Hertsgaard, co-founder of Covering Climate Now, addressed journalists at Columbia Journalism School. He emphasized that climate change is not merely a problem or crisis, but an urgent emergency. Hertsgaard urged for continuous, intense coverage comparable to the COVID pandemic, highlighting the significance of the planet&#8217;s predicament<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":2106895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2106894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/176"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2106894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2106894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2106895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2106894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2106894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2106894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}