Media outlets are cutting back on climate reporting. Recent data shows a major drop in coverage and airtime. The quality of reporting is now under pressure.
Media professionals tracking climate coverage are seeing a significant drop in reporting volume, raising concerns for publishers, editors, and content strategists focused on audience growth and editorial impact. The reduction in climate journalism could affect how newsrooms allocate resources and prioritize topics that drive engagement and trust.
Grist, a long-standing environment-focused news organization, recently highlighted that global media coverage of climate issues fell by 38% in 2025 compared to its peak in 2021. This figure is based on data from the University of Colorado, Boulder, which has tracked climate-related keywords in news content for decades. In the United States, Media Matters for America reported a 35% decrease in climate-related airtime on major broadcast networks CBS, ABC, and NBC since 2024.
While keyword tracking provides a measurable way to monitor coverage, experts note that it only captures part of the picture. The real risk, according to researchers, is that climate remains a deeply underreported topic despite its global significance. This trend is prompting news leaders to emphasize the importance of quality over quantity in climate journalism, especially as layoffs and budget cuts reshape editorial priorities.
Efforts to highlight the value of journalism in society continue, as seen in campaigns that encourage publishers to unite around critical issues. For example, news leaders have called on organizations to participate in initiatives that showcase the importance of journalism and build public trust, as described in a recent campaign urging publishers to demonstrate journalism's impact.
