Anti-climate action statements get more visibility in news coverage, study finds

Media is dependent directly and indirectly on funding from fossil fuel companies.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/bu-aas072220.php

News Release 27-Jul-2020
Brown University


When organizations take a stand against actions to combat climate change, they get more news coverage than their pro-climate action peers, according to a new study by a Brown University researcher.

Rachel Wetts, an assistant professor in Brown's sociology department affiliated with the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, analyzed nearly three decades of climate change-related press releases and national news articles. Approximately 14% of press releases opposing climate action or denying the science behind climate change received major national news coverage, she found, compared to about 7% of press releases with pro-climate action messages.

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