Weathercasters: Local Climate Change Educators?
Results from a recent George Mason University poll show that over 60 percent of weathercasters on television are interested in taking on the role of climate change educator, reports Science Daily. And already, a large number are doing just this. Using a variety of forums – blogs, presentations, and newspaper columns to name a few – weathercasters are seeking to educate the local population on climate change.
Only 10 percent of television stations have a specialist to cover such topics. States University of Texas journalism professor Kristopher Wilson,
By default, and in many cases by choice, science stories become the domain of the only scientifically trained person in the newsroom — weathercasters.
But only 54 percent believe climate change is occurring, compared to the 96 percent of distinguished climatologists which hold this belief. According to survey results, 25 percent of weathercasters assert global warming is not occurring and 21 percent are not sure.
According to Director Edward Maibach of the Center for Climate Change Communication,
Climate scientists may need to make their case directly to America’s weathercasters, because these two groups appear to have a very different understanding about the scientific consensus on climate change.
This survey is just one piece to a broader project in support of weathercasters as global warming educators.
