Is The Media Hyping Global Warming?

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: 4th Estate Debate

(CBS)

Right now, the Environment and Public Works Committee is holding a committee hearing on "Climate Change and the Media." Up for discussion is "how the media has presented scientific evidence regarding predictions of human-caused catastrophic global warming," according to the Washington Times.

The Times got this comment from committee Communications Director Marc Morano: "Senator [James M. Inhofe] believes that poorly conceived policy decisions will result from the media's nonstop hyping of 'extreme scenarios' and dire climate predictions. This hearing will serve to advance the interests of sound science and encourage rational policy decisions."

Inhofe, who chairs the committee, called global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" in a July 2003 speech. Chris Mooney has labeled him the "U.S. Senate's leading abuser of science" and argues that Inhofe "brazenly…ignores what scientists know with confidence about global warming."

I watched the opening of the hearing, which can be viewed online. In his opening statement, Inhofe spoke of the media's "overhyped" and "one sided reporting," specifically pointing to a number of reports, including those by "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley. (We spoke to Pelley about his global reporting reports here and here. Inhofe cited Pelley's comments to us in this Sept. 25 speech.)

The Times' partial list of those testifying includes geologist David Deming of the University of Oklahoma, who wrote a paper entitled "INHOFE CORRECT ON GLOBAL WARMING"; paleoclimate researcher Bob Carter of Australia's James Cook University, who wrote "Modern 'global warming' may turn out to be just a lot of hot air"; Dan Gainor of the Business & Media Institute (a division of the Media Research Center), a critic of global warming reporting; and Naomi Oreskes of the University of California at San Diego, who has deemed global warming "undeniable" and written that "[w]e need to stop repeating nonsense about the uncertainty of global warming and start talking seriously about the right approach to address it."

In her opening statement, Sen. Barbara Boxer spoke about her hope that the hearing not be used to "chill the free expression of the media." She also said that she does not "believe it is proper to put the pressure on the media," and that while there is an overwhelming consensus on the seriousness and severity of the global warming problem, "dissenting views on global warming get plenty of attention of the media." The hearing is just getting underway; you can watch it here.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

6 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by SheepXoXo February 17, 2010 9:19 AM EST: It's hard to deny the facts here, global warming is a "future threat" and will remain a serious threat to our futures and our children's futures if the right measures aren't taken to fix the problem today. People need to wake up and realize that, yes the Media is over-exaggerating Global Warming, but, no that's not a bad thing. We need this "hype" to mobilize. Carbon Dioxide levels are higher (over 300) than they've ever been NATURALLY and this is because of our races added output of CO2.
Yes, some natural warming could be good for our planet and pleasing for our needs, but it's inevitable to agree that these heat waves will only get worse and worse. Right now, we can't blame every little weather change on global warming, but in a few years, if our habits don't change and the proper steps aren't taken, we will.
Instead of making this a controversy, we should all work together to make a solution and protect the planet for our future, and our future's future.; Reply to this comment


by jmagarotz December 7, 2006 3:55 PM EST: Yes we wish that AlGore had won the presidency. Then we could walk to work (remember, No Cars) in the ice and snow while reading passages from our korans and listen to Algore tell us how he invented the internet. Those who believe the MSM about Global Warming should read the words of PT Barnum, "There's a sucker born every minute" instead of blindly following the Media's lead like good little SHEEP. Wake up and think for yourselves, use your head for something other than a hatrack, as mother used to say!
Sheesh, grow up and wake up!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by sunshine_2 December 6, 2006 7:53 PM EST: k-sozer:

Explain how thye can now have wine vinyards in England adn are now producing top grade wine .... on lands that were once so wet and foggy that grapes did not produce well?
Explain the ever growing changes in the earths atmosophere adn the Ozone Hole Getting larger.
Whe does every other Educated Nation in the World "believe" except America? If real "proof" is needed, for America to take action. why isn't the Federal Government funding such Sceintific Research? Is it not realy just a case of plausable deniability? Without the murder weapon there was no murder??; Reply to this comment


by peterbaldwin-2009 December 6, 2006 3:06 PM EST: I remember how Scott Pelley's reporting brought out legions of Exxon trolls here. Those trolls crawled back into the woodwork as fast as they crawled out.
As it turned out those trolls were traced back to the oil and tobacco people. One has arrived. Will they all return with their lies?; Reply to this comment


by k-sozer December 6, 2006 2:57 PM EST: To answer the question of your headline, yes, the media has overhyped and oversimplified the issues of global warming and climate change. Far more coverage has been given to advocates of the theory that climate change is man made, and very little is given to the many scientists who remain skeptical of the weak science behind that theory.

The pushback by Inhofe is a tiny, overdue step towards restoring balance.

My question is why did the media swallow unproven conjecture so readily, so willingly?; Reply to this comment


by peterbaldwin-2009 December 6, 2006 2:07 PM EST: A minority of easily fooled, ethnocentric Americans (And Aussies) might still be quibbling about global warming, but to the rest of the planet, that world view is seen as "quaint". Brian, too, has been exposed as just another Bush bootlicker and corporate stooge with a credibility rating approaching zero.

The ever expanding, reality-based community cannot be as easily fooled as it was a few years back. People are beginning to become appropriately alarmed.

Everyone needs to go out and rent "An Inconvenient Truth" and make the kids all watch it at least two times. Al Gore's loss to Bush in 2000 cost America dearly.

But its not too late. Americans of every stripe need to start clamoring for Gore to throw his hat back into the ring. We need him now more than ever.; Reply to this comment