Connecting the Dots: Television News Media and Climate Change (2012)

This thesis documentary examines the factors that influence the television news media in providing climate change coverage and explores unique perspectives from the news producers at CTV Toronto, as well as the environmental and scientific communities. There is strong consensus that the television media have a profound influence on public opinion. However the complexity of climate science and the traditional approach to providing balanced reporting seem to be two of the biggest barriers that could be making it difficult to provide effective climate change coverage. The documentary explores how the television news media can link news stories in diverse sectors of society and daily life to the bigger picture of climate change by applying a Systems Perspective, which focuses on the interconnections between events. Throughout the documentary I have narrated my literature findings and juxtaposed them with diverse and valuable views from the participants.