STUDY: Media Avoid Climate Context In Wildfire Coverage

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/07/03/study-media-avoid-climate-context-in-wildfire-c/186921

Research ››› July 3, 2012 12:39 PM EDT ››› JILL FITZSIMMONS, JOCELYN FONG, MELODY JOHNSON, & SHAUNA THEEL

While numerous factors determine the frequency, severity and cost of wildfires, scientific research indicates that human-induced climate change increases fire risks in parts of the Western U.S. by promoting warmer and drier conditions. Seven of nine fire experts contacted by Media Matters agreed journalists should explain the relationship between climate change and wildfires. But an analysis of recent coverage suggests mainstream media outlets are not up to the task -- only 3 percent of news reports on wildfires in the West mentioned climate change.

Only 3 Percent Of Wildfire Coverage Mentioned Long-Term Climate Change Or Global Warming. The major television and print outlets largely ignored climate change in their coverage of wildfires in Colorado, New Mexico and other Western states. All together, only 3 percent of the reports mentioned climate change, including 1.6 percent of television segments and 6 percent of text articles.

[shrdlu]

1. But its those damn beetles, don'tcha know?

[kestrel91316]

2. The elephant in the living room.......

It's all just because of those silly beetles, and no one can figure out why they are such a problem now. These things just happen, I suppose.