National TV news has largely failed to cover Hurricane Ian as a climate story
Coverage of Hurricane Ian by corporate TV news was extensive and voluminous. All six networks included in Media Matters’ analysis had meteorologists and correspondents on the ground delivering vital reporting on the strength and intensity of the storm; the September 28 editions of both the CBS and NBC evening news programs broadcast from Florida. Many programs carried live press briefings from local and federal officials that included critical information on how to stay safe and what those affected should expect in the coming days. This has long been the role and goal of hurricane coverage -- and by and large, it was accomplished.
But the checklist of what hurricane coverage should constitute must also include both communicating the connection to the climate crisis and making viewers more conversant about what stronger and more frequent storms mean for residents. At this point, to not do so is media malpractice.
Early reporting on the strengthening storm approaching Florida, followed by wall-to-wall coverage, offered ample opportunity for networks to provide this type of in-depth coverage, but only 46 of 1,020 segments made even a passing mention of climate change. Among the broadcast networks, NBC had the most mentions with 4, followed by ABC with 2 mentions, and CBS with 1. Combined corporate broadcast coverage mentioned climate change in 7 of 121 (6%) segments.
MSNBC aired the most connections to climate among the cable networks, with 17, followed by CNN with 15. MSNBC and CNN combined aired 32 segments that mentioned climate change in relation to Hurricane Ian, or 4%. More on Fox News climate mentions below.
Some of the most substantive segments on the relationship between Hurricane Ian and climate change that appeared on broadcast included the September 27 edition of ABC’s World News Tonight. ABC meteorologist Rob Marciano noted that climate change has influenced Ian’s rapid intensification and the warm ocean waters around Florida. And on the September 28 edition of NBC Nightly News, correspondent Kerry Sanders stated that “experts say the warming waters of the gulf may be attributed to climate change. … That warm water fuels the monster storm.”
On cable, MSNBC aired the most substantive segments on climate, including on the September 28 edition of MSNBC’s Alex Wagner Tonight. It featured an interview with climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe, who spoke about how climate change is exacerbating hurricanes: “We aren't seeing a change in the overall numbers of hurricanes, but when those hurricanes happen they are intensifying faster. They're getting stronger, they are dumping a lot more rain on us, and they are even moving more slowly. Climate change is truly loading the weather dice against us, putting us all at risk.”