Climate change as portrayed in a major Australian newspaper, the <i>Sydney Morning Herald</i> , over one year (August 2023 to July 2024): a zoologist reads between the lines

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine, through a zoological lens, climate change reporting in the Sydney Morning Herald and its Sunday version, the Sun-Herald, over one year (August 2023 to July 2024). The approach taken was to extract articles on environmental topics, including climate change, sort the articles into major themes, select and summarise key articles, and comment on the coverage of climate change issues. Accompanying photos and graphics were examined to determine what messages they conveyed and whether they complement and enhance the written text. Of the grand total of articles (n= 361), the number of articles about climate change that mentioned animals was modest (n= 34), whereas the number of articles on animals but not mentioning climate change was much higher (n= 161). Within that limited coverage of climate change with animals, the marine environment dominated, with the Great Barrier Reef being the most covered topic and the only one where the term ‘emergency’ was applied. The emergency, as I see it, is not only about climate change itself, but also the lack of awareness, education and effective communication that our zoological heritage is being adversely affected by climate change. The final group of articles covers the disturbing insights into misinformation and disinformation. The corporate resistance to addressing climate change by fossil fuel interests is powerful and apparent, the conflicts of interest are revealed by investigative journalism and the suppression of scientists emerges as a more disturbing theme than is apparent from any of the articles on climate change and wildlife. The change needed in the media is going to take more skill from scientists telling their stories, journalists capturing what a scientist is saying, and editorial policy that allows bold reports in this heavily contested space.