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Content Confusion: How News Organizations Contribute to Climate Disinformation
In 2019, then MA State Attorney General Maura Healey sued ExxonMobil for deceptive advertising. This session will focus on the nature, origins, spread, and impacts of one of the ads in this lawsuit – “The Future of Energy” – produced by a leading news organization. Results from a nationally representative survey of US adults exposed to the ad will be discussed along with the dangers of a widely adopted practice in the journalism industry that pollutes the information environment on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.
Dr. Amazeen explores the climate disinformation ecosystem using insights from the Climate Disinformation Initiative at BU. She will examine tactics used to generate climate disinformation, the motivations for journalism’s adoption of such practices, and its effects on consumer perceptions. But this presentation will not just uncover the problem – it is about effective interventions, strategies to discern credible information, and navigating the digital landscape with confidence. It will explore the intersection of climate disinformation and technology, examining how advertising and social media amplify falsehoods. As climate action becomes urgent, truth becomes a powerful weapon. By understanding this, it is possible to expose industry delay tactics and foster constructive dialogue about climate change. This talk will navigate climate communications in the digital age, paving the way for more informed action towards a resilient and sustainable future.
Dr. Amazeen explores the climate disinformation ecosystem using insights from the Climate Disinformation Initiative at BU. She will examine tactics used to generate climate disinformation, the motivations for journalism’s adoption of such practices, and its effects on consumer perceptions. But this presentation will not just uncover the problem – it is about effective interventions, strategies to discern credible information, and navigating the digital landscape with confidence. It will explore the intersection of climate disinformation and technology, examining how advertising and social media amplify falsehoods. As climate action becomes urgent, truth becomes a powerful weapon. By understanding this, it is possible to expose industry delay tactics and foster constructive dialogue about climate change. This talk will navigate climate communications in the digital age, paving the way for more informed action towards a resilient and sustainable future.
Speakers
Key Takeaways
- Content studios of major news outlets are creating ads for the fossil fuel industry that have been invoked as evidence in climate lawsuits by state attorneys general for being “false and misleading” and in violation of states’ consumer protection laws.
- Belief in the greenwashing claims is stronger among people exposed to these ads than those who were not.
- FTC-mandated disclosures a) help people recognize this type of advertising, and b) decrease belief in greenwashing claims, but c) are often missing from these ads.
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