Whatever the Weather: Media Attitudes to Reporting Climate Change

This report shares findings from a Panos survey to explore existing perceptions and capacity for journalists to report on global climate change, and to share these with policy-makers. Interviews were conducted with journalists and media professionals in Honduras, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Zambia to give insights into the attitudes of journalists and the status of the media in these countries.

The study found that, though nearly all the journalists agreed that climate change is a major issue, there is little knowledge among them about important environmental issues. The dramatic impacts of extreme weather events, for example, rarely feature in relation to climate change and the topic remains low on editors’ story sheets. Among the communication trends identified in the article:

• In Jamaica, few newspaper columns, radio or TV programmes focus specifically on the environment.
• In Zambia, there is very little coverage of climate change, despite frequent droughts over Southern Africa.
• The situation is better in Sri Lanka, where media coverage of environmental issues is good. However, although the media covers hurricanes, droughts and flooding, the stories do not often make a link to climate change.

According to the report, the media play an important role in stimulating discussion in developing countries. Yet journalists identified several obstacles to reporting climate change stories. For instance, they lack access to quality information on the subject, and most information is only available in English. In addition, interviewees commented that the national media is often controlled by businesses with other priorities and little interest in the debate. The author argues that public discussion of the policies and issues involved is needed. He proposes that this means those engaged in climate change issues must give journalists what they need for a good story (e.g., accurate and clear information on climate change that is not full of jargon).

Based on these findings, Panos developed a set recommendations for the benefit of policy-makers across the board. It is hoped they will provide food for thought and a spark for discussion.

• There should be constant interaction between the people who have the information, the media and those affected by climate change to create awareness of the issues.
• Scientists and policy-makers must break down the jargon used in relation to climate change issues.
• Policy-makers should make financial resources available for training programmes for journalists, including editors, to raise their awareness and understanding of the issues around climate change and the importance of their role in furthering the debate.
• Policy-makers should invest in public media initiatives such as multi-stakeholder dialogues, which would provide space and resources for journalists who want to cover key environmental themes.
• Information sources, such as websites, need to be reliable and accessible. Important information should be made available in a variety of languages.
• An online image bank would enable journalists to download and use images in stories on climate change. This would help combat low literacy levels in some countries.
• There should be a deliberate effort on the part of the media to present people-centred climate change stories to make the issues real to the public and build understanding of the need to be involved in the debate.

Four case studies are provided which discuss national media coverage of environmental issues and climate change, obstacles to attracting media interest and an overview of media sources.