Extreme Weather and Climate Change: How Are Local TV Broadcasters Connecting the Dots?

It has never been more important for the public to understand the connection between extreme weather and climate change. Numerous studies have identified local TV meteorologists as some of the public’s most trusted messengers. Understanding the importance of this community, Climate Central’s Climate Matters program has served as an essential resource for TV meteorologists, working to educate the public about the link between extreme weather and climate change.

Climate Central and Nielsen recently partnered to conduct a study of climate contextualization in extreme weather coverage. The study identified various extreme weather events, all of which occurred over the past year, including extreme heat, hurricanes, and heavy precipitation. Using specific criteria to identify related coverage, we reviewed thousands of local TV news segments that aired across four major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) with the goal of identifying if, when, and how a connection was made between extreme events and climate change.

In this talk, we will present findings from our study, discuss the patterns and potential implications, as well as reflect upon ways in which organizations like Climate Central can help bridge the gaps and improve public understanding.