Climate change is a story that is complex, multifaceted and big — perhaps the biggest issue of our time. It’s a story that doesn’t end, at least not anytime soon. Its effects surround us but are not always visible from our front porch. This is a story that affects people all over the world and spans across all journalistic beats. Yet, it is a story that has often been neglected, misrepresented and abused. But many journalists have been working over the last decade to tell the true story of climate change. Journalists have always played an important role in shaping the way in which the public and decision makers understand and prioritize climate change. In a fast-paced world, most don’t have the time to dissect mounds of data or read through various scientific reports about the changing climate. People turn to news organizations – rightfully so – to gain a better understanding of what is going on in the world—in 900 words or less, of course. However, the issue of climate change hasn’t been quite as seamlessly covered by media as one may expect. Over the years, journalists have had trouble reporting on the topic. Many of these difficulties often involved a lack of education on the issue, political and industry influence, a lack of prioritization of the beat in newsrooms and pressure for journalists to present both sides of the story, therefore lacking the ability to accurately represent the scientific consensus. To view the full article visit the DePaulia.
