The dual climate impact of news media

This article examines the challenges that arise as news media organizations address the climate crisis as commercial journalistic organizations. Following a communicative constitution of organization (CCO) approach, we analyze how Nordic commercial news media organizations navigate the climate crisis through the dynamics between words (“talking”) and actions (“walking”). Using a combination of document data and interview data, we examine such talk–walk dynamics in organizational communication about carbon footprint and carbon handprint. Our findings demonstrate how these talk–walk dynamics shift when “talk” – sensegiving about climate change – is positioned as the core product of commercial operations. We identify three key challenges in media organizations’ climate change communication: demonstrating credibility through leading by example, relevance through reflecting environmental concerns and values, and leadership through renewing practices when necessary. Finally, the findings suggest that while organizations grapple with measuring the carbon handprint, the concept serves as a tool to enable sensemaking on the dual climate impact of media organizations.