On March 27, 2025, an article was published questioning the future of US broadcasters’ coverage of climate change due to their handling of an incident involving the term “Gulf of America.” This situation raised concerns about whether these networks would accurately report on climate issues.
The article discusses comments made by actor George Clooney on the TV program “60 Minutes,” where he emphasized the crucial role of journalism in holding power accountable, drawing parallels to Edward R. Murrow’s challenges during the McCarthy era.
A recent example of media behavior was highlighted by media writer Oliver Darcy. He pointed out that major US networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN avoided using the term “Gulf of Mexico” when reporting on a NASA mission event. Darcy noted that this avoidance stems from a desire to evade criticism from Donald Trump and avoid upsetting certain audiences.
The broader concern addressed in the article is whether these networks will similarly avoid discussing climate change straightforwardly, given Trump’s past efforts to suppress this information on government platforms. This type of self-censorship could mislead the public and fail in journalism’s duty to challenge authority.
The networks’ reluctance is attributed, in part, to the influence of corporate ownership. These corporations manage the “standards departments” that dictate permissible language on air, often bowing to higher corporate interests. The networks’ desire to maintain White House access is also a factor, although the article suggests that this approach enables more aggressive demands from figures like Trump.
Emphasizing the importance of informed coverage, it was mentioned that the vast majority of the global population supports strong climate action, indicating a disconnect with Trump’s stance and highlighting a missed opportunity for networks to align with public sentiment by engaging more deeply with climate issues.
The piece concludes by stressing the role of independent journalism in countering misinformation and advocating for informed public discourse. Mark Hertsgaard, the author and environment correspondent for The Nation, along with the global media collaboration Covering Climate Now, focuses on enhancing media coverage on climate issues.
