by Catherine Ferrieux
The context The UNFCCC Cop 15 Conference in Copenhagen, December 7th – 19th, Bella Center I was there as a freelancer attending the last days of the Conference December 17th-19th I interviewed journalists from all over the world attending the Cop 15 during the whole conference (7th to 19th december)
The survey Comparing national variations in reporting of climate change science during Cop 15. A short questionnaire consisting of 3 questions : 1) list of topics followed 2) proportion of science & technology-angled stories vs other angles 3) space given to scientists in the media/in the country
Bella Center, the media room
Who were the journalists surveyed Total number of journalists surveyed : 37 (out of 3221 accredited journalists for Cop 15) Live interviews in Copenhagen : 17 - Earth Journalism Awards winners - journalists interviewed at random interviews : 20 - UNFCCC fellow journalists - Earth Journalism Network journalists
Where were they from ?
What type of media ?
What speciality for journalists ?
What topics covered ?
Proportion of science & technology angled stories to be compared with:
Space given to scientists in media In your media In your country’s mainstream media
Space given to scientists – breakdown by media
Findings and issues for discussion During Cop 15, science of climate change was under- reported - By the media in general - By the specialized media and science journalists What happened to science during Cop 15? - Lack of science news ? - Bad timing : lack of new report from IPCC ? - Climategate : lack of science credibility ? - Science and civil society kept aside from the Bella Center ; confidential « side events » (badly communicated & little audience)
Annex : nb of journalists per country EUROPE : France 2 UK 1 Germany 1 Spain 1 Portugal 2 Macedonia 1 Slovenia 1 MIDDLE EAST: Algeria 1 Lebanon 1 Egypt 2 AFRICA : Senegal 2 Kenya 1 Cameroon 1 Rwanda 1 Botswana 1 ASIA : China 1 Japan 1 Singapore 1 Pakistan 1 India 3 Nepal 1 Philippines 1 SOUTH AMERICA : Brazil 3 Guatemala 1 Suriname 1 Mexico 1 Argentina 1 NORTH AMERICA : USA 2
BYE BYE & THANK YOU !