Speaking Out or Staying Quiet on Climate Change: Broadcast Meteorologists Influenced by the Need to Be Pithy, Popular and Politically Cautious

• Published in: Climate Change Adaptation in North America pp. 261 - 277
• Main Authors: Meldrum, Helen, Szymanski, David, Oches, Eric A., Thompson Davis, P.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing
• Series: Climate Change Management
• Subjects: Attitudes and statements on climate change; Broadcast meteorologists
• ISBN: 9783319537412; 3319537415
• ISSN: 1610-2010; 1610-2010
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53742-9_16

Broadcast meteorologists are in a position to convey knowledge about climate change to the public. These media professionals make deliberate choices about what information to omit or present to their audiences. Interviews with broadcast meteorologists revealed a wide range of attitudes about conveying climate science to their viewers. Three significant concerns emerged from conversations with participants: on-air time constraints are non-negotiable, pressure to be a “popular” personality is constant, and there is an enduring apprehension about taking a position associated with a perceived controversial topic or political viewpoint. Discomfort with these constraints affects the content choices of broadcast meteorologists who might otherwise take a stand representing the scientific consensus on climate change.