Covering Climate: What Is the Media Missing?

Media outlets are starting to put more resources into covering the worsening climate crisis. But what’s taking so long? Why aren’t there more full-time climate reporters, and why aren’t there more stories connecting “everyday issues” to climate change? What’s the toll from the decline of local journalism, and how does it affect coverage of environmental justice? Former New York Times journalist Andrew Revkin, media watchdog Genevieve Guenther, Dharna Noor of Earther and Gizmodo, and Rachel Ramirez of Vox will examine common flaws in climate reporting and how the media can do better.

This workshop will take place online via Zoom, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link prior to the event. It can also be streamed live on YouTube.

Moderator:

Jessica McKenzie is a freelance journalist who covers agriculture, conservation, energy, the environment, hiking, and backpacking. Her work has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Backpacker, and Audobon Magazine, among others. She also writes a nature and outdoor newsletter called Pinch of Dirt.

Speakers:

Andrew Revkin has written about climate change for more than 30 years, mostly for The New York Times. He has held top positions at National Geographic and Discover Magazine, won top awards in science journalism as well as a Guggenheim fellowship, and has authored books about climate change. He now directs the Initiative on Communication Innovation and Impact at Columbia University's Earth Institute.

Genevieve Guenther is a Renaissance scholar and the founding director of End Climate Silence, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping the news media cover the climate crisis "with the accuracy and urgency it deserves." She is a member of the affiliate faculty at The New School, where she serves on the advisory board of the Tishman Environment and Design Center, and is an expert reviewer for the Sixth Assessment Report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Dharna Noor is a journalist and video producer. She is a staff writer at Earther@Gizmodo, where she reports on energy, environment, climate change, environmental justice, and conservation.

Rachel Ramirez covers race, environmental justice, energy, and climate science for Huffpost, The Guardian, Grist, Vox, and other publications. She is a co-founder of the Asian American Journalists Association Pacific Islander Task Force.