America’s weather reporters are gathering in Boston this week
Tell your TV meteorologist why you want to hear about climate change
Dear Kevin,
Starting on Wednesday, weather reporters from across the country will convene in Boston for the American Meteorological Society’s Broadcast Meteorology Conference. It’s the single biggest gathering of U.S. weathercasters, and we have a unique opportunity to let them know you’re counting on them to give you the facts about climate change.
Can you take a minute to write a comment to your local meteorologist saying why you want them to be a “climatecaster” who reports the facts about global warming? All you need to do is say why you care about climate change — whether it’s because of your children’s future or your concern for farmers hit by drought.
If we get to 1,000 comments, we’ll print them up and hand them out to every weathercaster we meet. And if your local meteorologist is at the conference, we’ll personally hand your message to him or her.
Click here to send your TV meteorologist a message
If there’s ever been a time that shows the importance of weathercasters as climate communicators, it’s this summer. Heat waves have shattered records throughout the U.S., enormous wildfires swept through Colorado, and the largest drought in American history continues to devastate the Midwest. All of this is on the heels of a historic year for extreme weather in 2011, and a steady stream of research fingering climate pollution as the culprit.
But while some weathercasters are doing their jobs and explaining the connections between climate change and weather, too many are staying silent or, worse, spreading misinformation. Some say they avoid the subject for fear of backlash from global warming deniers. That’s why it’s so important that TV meteorologists know that their viewers are looking to them for answers about global warming.
Please help us deliver that message loud and clear by clicking below and leaving a comment for your local weathercaster.
Tell your local weather reporter why you want them to report about climate change!
This conference is a huge moment to communicate the important role that meteorologists have in informing Americans about climate change. Please help us make the most of it!
Factually yours,
Brad, Daniel, Jordan, and the rest of the Forecast the Facts team
PS: We will be live-tweeting from the conference and writing blog posts about our conversations with meteorologists. So if you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter (if you’re into that kind of thing).
More Information
AMS 40th Conference on Broadcast Meteorology
http://www.ametsoc.org/meet/fainst/201240broadcast.html
“Study Finds More of Earth Is Hotter and Says Global Warming Is at Work,” New York Times, 8-7-12
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/science/earth/extreme-heat-is-covering-more-of-the-earth-a-study-says.html
“On Global Warming, Scientists and TV Weathercasters are At Odds,” New York Times,03-030-2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/science/earth/30warming.html
