How to Make Climate Stories Impossible to Ignore | Katherine Dunn | TED

Overview

This talk explores how journalists can make climate stories more engaging and relatable to audiences, emphasizing the importance of connecting climate change to everyday life, culture, and personal interests. Katherine Dunn shares insights from her work at the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, offering actionable strategies to improve climate reporting and foster greater public awareness.

Notable Quotes

- A story is someone doing something, because. – Katherine Dunn, on the essence of impactful journalism.

- Why weren’t the mangoes as good in Egypt this year? It was climate change, of course. – Katherine Dunn, illustrating how personal connections can make climate stories resonate.

- Just because the boundary for success is so high—stopping climate change—it doesn’t mean we can’t help people make tangible, important choices about their lives. – Katherine Dunn, on the role of journalism in addressing the climate crisis.

🌍 The Challenge of Climate Reporting

- Many people, including journalists, avoid climate news because it feels overwhelming, technical, or depressing.

- Regular consumption of climate news increases awareness of its immediate impacts, such as health effects and the disproportionate responsibility of wealthier nations.

- Dunn’s personal journey from covering the energy industry to climate journalism highlighted the difficulty of engaging audiences with climate stories.

📚 Rethinking Climate Journalism

- The Oxford Climate Journalism Network trains journalists worldwide to view climate as a lens that intersects with all beats—sports, culture, finance, and more.

- Over 600 journalists from diverse backgrounds have participated, learning to question assumptions and integrate climate into their reporting.

- Dunn emphasizes that climate reporting isn’t just about big stories; it’s about connecting the dots and providing context in everyday coverage.

🥭 Find Your Mango Approach

- Inspired by an Egyptian editor’s observation about mango quality and climate change, this method encourages journalists to identify relatable, culturally significant topics in their regions.

- Examples include skiing in Canada, coffee in Costa Rica, and football in many countries. These connections make climate change personal and tangible.

- Highlighting how climate affects beloved aspects of life—like food, sports, and traditions—can engage audiences emotionally.

📰 Practical Tips for Newsrooms

- Take Inventory: Many newsrooms already cover climate-related topics (e.g., water issues, energy prices) without explicitly labeling them as such. Recognizing this can expand climate coverage.

- Be Proactive: Prepare for predictable climate events (e.g., wildfires, heatwaves) like newsrooms prepare for elections or the Olympics.

- Balance Stories: Combine hard-hitting reports with uplifting narratives, such as community-driven initiatives or climate heroes making a difference.

🔗 Making Connections and Driving Action

- Effective climate journalism provides actionable insights, helping people make decisions about their health, careers, and daily lives.

- By focusing on what matters most to audiences and presenting climate as an integral part of their world, journalists can make it harder for people to look away.