Antti Lipponen, a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, put a video on his private Twitter account on 1 August 2017 in which using a visualisation he illustrated global warming over 117 years (1900 – 2016).
Lipponen, whose work included climate data analysis, quickly received requests for interviews from all over the world. Here he explains how journalists can make use of data visualisations when working on stories about climate change. Lipponen also shows from a researcher’s viewpoint how journalists usually deal with the subject.
How should data be visualised when demonstrating the effects of climate change? Is there information readily available to journalists?
It is always worthwhile illustrating difficult subjects by using visualisations. “Look at how the climate is getting warmer” is more convincing than saying “research shows that the climate is getting warmer”. But, for it to work, a visualisation must be clear. One key message per visualisation is almost the limit.
Climate data is readily available, it’s transparent and fairly easy to find. The majority of data is available in exotic file formats for researchers, so to look at it you need a separate programme.
Those putting out climate data should consider how such information could be accessed as easily as possible in a manageable and viewable format so that anyone can open it and be able to check how the information appears.
What, from a researcher’s angle, would be the crucial thing to ask an interviewee for a story about climate change?
Journalists ask good questions about the issues that clearly concern their stories’ target audience. I don’t think that you can ask the wrong things on this issue.
When looking for a specialist to interview, it’s definitely good to contact an institute’s communications department and to explain briefly what the interview concerns. They will be able to advise on specialists who would be right specifically for that interview.
What issues should be given more emphasis?
There are still many uncertainties about climate change and a lot of further research is needed. This will enable us to say more clearly what is natural variation in climate change and what is human-induced. This would be important to introduce in stories but in ways so that climate change and its causes are not diminished or exaggerated.
What sorts of misconceptions have you come across in stories about climate change?
Ideas about weather and climate frequently get confused. For instance, a warm winter does not yet necessarily mean that the climate has warmed up. Many of the pieces I read this autumn about hurricanes gave the impression that the intensity of the hurricanes or, say, their numbers are due to climate change. Weather events are the sum of many factors, and with some it may be that climate change has an impact.
A researcher’s tips for journalists
1. Remember source criticism
Climate change evokes strong feelings, and at times there is false information going around. It’s always important to remember source criticism and to check the accuracy of information.
2. Follow social media
There is a huge amount of discussion about climate change among active climate researchers on Twitter, especially. Often you will find issues that appear on the pages of journals after a while. Twitter is also an easy way to be in contact with researchers and ask them for further information
3. Expert help is always available
Climate research is carried out at several universities and at national and international research institutions. From them you can find specialists for providing comment and advice.
Tips from Antti Lipponen, senior researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute
A journalist’s tips for journalists
1. Limit the subject
It’s of paramount importance to illustrate your topic. Go to the trouble of searching out examples. It can be difficult to find a lead when writing a news story on climate change.
2. Think about why you’re writing the story
It’s not easy to write about climate change, because the subject is wide-ranging. Work out the core point of the story yourself before you set out to look for examples.
3. Look for experts with an open mind
It’s not good always to rely on well-known specialists. There are many researchers in different fields. The abundance can be a surprise if you’re not regularly in touch with the academic world.
4. Be confident
The target audience for stories on climate change is extensive. You should assume an interest in the subject on the part of your audience. Denialism is exaggerated. It is not a problem with climate change journalism. The situation was different maybe 10 – 15 years ago.
Tips from the Finnish investigative journalist and science writer Hanna Nikkanen.
An expert’s tips for journalists
- When reporting or writing on droughts, fires, floods, storms, or refugees, climate change is often a background exacerbating factor. You should keep this in mind when dealing with such issues.
- Be alert in using sources, as there are misleading publications that are written convincingly but whose content may be totally wrong.
- In developing countries the problems cause by climate change are tangible, so these issues are prominent in such countries.
- As is often the case, the difficulty is to get the good news put out in the media, but you should make the effort.
- How to avoid the worst pitfalls:
1. Tell the good news too
2. Remember who the subject concerns
3. Avoid misleading information
4. Understand the contexts.
Tips from Jouni Keronen, executive director of the Climate Leadership Council.