by catherine ferrieux. the context the unfccc cop 15 conference in copenhagen, december 7th –...

by Catherine Ferrieux

The contextThe UNFCCC Cop 15 Conference in

Copenhagen, December 7th – 19th, Bella Center

I was there as a freelancer attending the last days of the Conference December 17th-19th

I interviewed journalists from all over the world attending the Cop 15 during the whole conference (7th to 19th december)

The surveyComparing national variations in reporting of

climate change science during Cop 15.

A short questionnaire consisting of 3 questions :1) list of topics followed2) proportion of science & technology-angled stories vs other angles3) space given to scientists in the media/in the country

Bella Center, the media room

Who were the journalists surveyedTotal number of journalists surveyed : 37

(out of 3221 accredited journalists for Cop 15)

Live interviews in Copenhagen : 17- Earth Journalism Awards winners- journalists interviewed at random

Email interviews : 20- UNFCCC fellow journalists- Earth Journalism Network journalists

Where were they from ?

What type of media ?

What speciality for journalists ?

What topics covered ?

Proportion of science & technology angled stories

to be compared with:

Space given to scientists in mediaIn your media In your country’s

mainstream media

Space given to scientists – breakdown by media

Findings and issues for discussionDuring Cop 15, science of climate change was

under- reported- By the media in general- By the specialized media and science journalists

What happened to science during Cop 15?- Lack of science news ?- Bad timing : lack of new report from IPCC ?- Climategate : lack of science credibility ?- Science and civil society kept aside from the

Bella Center ; confidential « side events » (badly communicated & little audience)

Annex : nb of journalists per countryEUROPE :  France 2 UK 1 Germany 1 Spain

1 Portugal 2 Macedonia 1 Slovenia 1 MIDDLE EAST: Algeria 1 Lebanon 1 Egypt 2 AFRICA :  Senegal 2 Kenya 1 Cameroon 1

Rwanda 1 Botswana 1 ASIA   : China 1 Japan 1 Singapore 1 Pakistan

1 India 3 Nepal 1 Philippines 1 SOUTH AMERICA : Brazil 3 Guatemala 1

Suriname 1 Mexico 1 Argentina 1 NORTH AMERICA : USA 2

BYE BYE & THANK YOU !