When climate-fueled disasters strike, local news coverage helps educate residents about the causes and informs public opinion about policy responses. This was true in early January 2025 when Los Angeles was devastated by the Eaton and Palisades fires. 

So, how did local news coverage frame these disasters? This survey of more than 600 stories and videos by The Los Angeles Times found that about 14% of that news content made mention of “climate change” or “global warming.” 

This “climate blind spot” is more glaring in TV and broadcast news and may help explain why Americans tell pollsters that they rarely see climate change in the news. The survey by Emmett Institute Communications Director Evan George compares and contrasts coverage by different sections of the paper; explores social science around media influence; and points to some solutions for newsrooms. 

Read the survey.

Photo: CALFIRE