14 DAY TRIAL // The mainstream media channels offer inadequate coverage on the issues generated by global warming, a new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report says. Over the past few years, only private documentaries and some governmental reports have prompted news agencies to cover the story, but other than that there is little to be seen on the impact and effects of climate change on regular TV programs.
IPCC draws attention to the fact that actions have to be taken soon in order to avert the effects that the heating of our atmosphere will cause over the next few years. Catastrophic tropical storms, unusual moody weather, and ocean level rises are all in store for humankind when carbon levels start amounting into the upper layers of our atmosphere and begin trapping even more heat from the Sun inside.
"In the last year and a half, there has been a massive explosion of awareness; however, the media has not reported enough about the emergency and depth of action," complained R.K. Pachauri, the leader of the 2,500 member IPCC, in front of media representatives gathered at the annual Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) meeting. "[Editors] are cutting international, even national news, and they're playing up more local and lifestyle stories. But the environment is still an important local story," argued The Baltimore Sun reporter Timothy Wheeler, who is also the president of SEJ.
The financial aspect was also brought up during the discussions. Private enterprises have strict funding and cannot allot extended spaces to promote awareness on issues such as global warming, which many people dismiss, as evidenced by the fact that only 50 percent of the American population believes that climate change is caused by human activities and pollution. The newspapers and TV stations must focus on news that brings in audience, such as lifestyle events and the likes.
Regardless of how much money is involved, network managers must understand that the issue of global warming is quite serious and that people need to learn about its effects and consequences as soon as possible, so that they can counteract it. On the bright side, government officials have already voiced support for renewable energy and funding in this direction is increasing, due to the oil crisis.