How often do you find news stories about climate change? I’m assuming, unless it is about major calamities like typhoons, droughts, or wildfires, you would seldom come across them. Even though the climate crisis is one, if not the most pressing issue of our generation, you would rarely find it on the front pages of newspapers or reported on major news broadcasts. News outlets would argue that the topic is difficult to attract audiences as it is too complex to report on and oftentimes depressing. So, how can you grab people’s attention? One thing was always clear for scientists, environmentalists, and even journalists: we need to change the way we talk about climate change.
The struggle with climate reporting
According to Jose Torres Jr., an editor from LiCAS News, environmental stories only become the forefront whenever weather catastrophes disturb the country. “Pag mayroong bagyo, kapag maraming namatay, doon lang lumalabas ‘yung mga environmental stories kasi no choice,” he added.
Further, “climate-related stories have to compete with other stories for space. The story has to be big, compelling, and engaging to be able to merit space,” said Elmer Recuerdo, a reporter from the Daily Tribune.
In a journalism and media forum at the University of the Philippines Baguio, journalist Manny Mogato said that the news industry finds environmental stories “boring.” Legacy media, such as newspapers, TV, and radio, rarely cover stories about climate change or the environment. There is little to no attention given to climate reporting compared to other interesting news stories like politics, sports, or entertainment.
Another challenge with climate reporting is the complexity of the issue. Most of the information we find about climate science is in figures, tables, and graphs, which are difficult for the general public to understand or relate to. In addition, most environmental stories shown in the news and media are typically negative and often depressing. So it does not only leave readers and audiences confused with the complex science but also discouraged by the bad news that comes with it.
“You can have all the science you want, but if you can’t effectively communicate it, then it almost doesn’t matter,” said Lucy Mcallister, an environmental communication researcher, in a DW Planet A YouTube video about why it is hard to care about climate change.
What Filipinos think
In the 2022 Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey, 64.3% of Filipinos were found the most worried about climate change. Given that we are more vulnerable to climate-related disasters, Filipinos were noted to have “the strongest sense of urgency in addressing the climate threat.“
Moreover, in the 2022 Digital News Report of the Reuters Institute, the Philippines ranked the highest in the Asia-Pacific market with 52% of respondents expressing interest in climate change and environmental news.
The reason for this, according to Craig T. Robertson of the Reuters Institute, could be because “audiences appear to be more interested in and pay more attention to climate change news in places where the negative effects are felt more acutely.”
Revamping climate reporting
The challenge now is how to effectively communicate and report complex climate stories into something more relevant and engaging to audiences. The first is accessibility. Simplifying scientific jargon into concepts that are comprehensible to overall audiences can increase awareness regarding the issue. If people can understand how climate change directly affects them, it would be a lot easier to spark change and initiate action.
Second, relatability. Stories about glaciers and ice caps melting would not resonate with Filipinos living in hot, tropical weather. But if you talk about heat waves and super typhoons, and how these are products of climate change, then you have their attention.
Third, focus on solutions rather than problems. According to Nic Newman of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, publications are already trying to “move coverage away from the catastrophic narrative.” This catastrophic narrative that is often associated with climate reporting leaves audiences feeling hopeless and powerless. Instead of highlighting what is wrong with the environment, reporting ways on how to fix these problems would make people more engaged and motivated to act and be involved.
Robertson also noted that taking a clear, active stance to fight the climate crisis can be one way to increase interest or attention. In the mentioned digital report, 42% of Filipinos say that journalists should advocate for climate change action. Filipinos “express more interest, pay more attention to climate change news, and feel more inclined to support journalists taking a stand” because the impacts of climate change are acutely felt in the Philippines.
Climate change does not need to be acutely felt before we generate change. Knowledge and awareness are key to preventing disaster and journalists play a crucial role in providing people with the right and credible information that empowers them to make positive decisions. Climate change is a global emergency. Time is of the essence, so let’s change now.
Komentar