Interest in global warming heated up on U.S. blogs
The U.S.-based Project for Excellence in Journalism’s New Media Index for Nov. 8-12 found global warming to be a top-five topic among U.S. bloggers.
This is the 10th time that has happened since the index began in January 2009, but the twist this time is that it is global warming believers baying the loudest:
… Supporters of global warming science were out in force to applaud the idea of a more active role for scientists.
“I’m really happy to hear this,” wrote Suburban Guerrilla, “Because Democrats can’t quite seem to organize much of anything these days and climate change is too important a cause to leave it to the GOP wolves.”
“Scientists to the rescue, woohoo!”* wrote Ted Compton.
“It’s damn well about time and perhaps way past it,” said Chris R. at The Localizer Blog.
“The earth is round and global warming is real,” wrote JEL at Capital Green, “one day you’ll believe.”
“I suggest zapping [congressional conservatives] with a shrink ray,” joked Terry Canaan at Gripper News, “because, come on, you’re scientists. Republicans don’t know who they’re messing with here.”
Still, a few global warming skeptics chimed in. “I look forward to the opportunity to debate a scientist from the other side who actually knows what they are talking about,” wrote Dr. Roy Spencer, “I’ve gone one-on-one with some speakers who so mangled the consensus explanation of global warming that I had to use up half my speaking time cleaning up the mess they made.”
Although global warming and the environment have been significant topics in social media, they have not garnered as much attention in the mainstream media. In a study conducted earlier this year, PEJ found that between January 2009 and January 2010, 4% of the top stories on blogs were about the environment as a whole, while only 2% of the traditional press newshole covered the environment. And so far in 2010, according to PEJ’s News Coverage Index, global warming has made up only 0.3% of the mainstream media newshole.
At USA Today’s Sciencefair blog , it reported Thursday that from January through October, 2010 had tied 1998 as the warmest year on record.
It’s not like the problem has gone away.