Media outlets are starting to use more urgent language when covering climate change
As the sixth mass extinction looms and the Great Barrier Reef diminishes, media outlets are switching up how they cover the environment.
The Guardian announced several changes to its style guide on Friday in an effort to "more accurately" describe environmental crises. Some of the changes include saying "climate emergency, crisis or breakdown" instead of "climate change," "wildlife" instead of "biodiversity," and "climate science denier" instead of "climate skeptic."
The Guardian is not banning the original terms, but highly suggests using the updated phrases.
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"We want to ensure that we are being scientifically precise, while also communicating clearly with readers on this very important issue," said editor-in-chief Katharine Viner, also adding that the phrase "climate change" is somewhat "passive and gentle."
The announcement comes nearly a month after CNN launched an Instagram account dedicated solely to climate issues. The account was spurred by a desire to appeal to CNN's following of younger voters who are increasingly listing climate change as a top policy concern, reports Digiday.
While global belief in climate change is high, the U.S. still remains a hotbed for disbelief in human-induced change, ranking third in the world for the highest denial rate.
