The Daily Doomer: “Existential threats are getting worse: nuclear war, AI fears, climate change”
We are all going to die, Really Soon Now. Your dose of The Daily Doomer.
Climate: ‘”Boiling seas” part of the ClimateCrisis”‘
A competent reporter would ask why one buoy (but not the adjoining buoys) registered high sea temperatures, which then dropped by 9 degrees within hours, and by 17 degrees within 2 days. But “competent” and “reporter” rarely belong in the same sentence. Sigh.
Media: “61% of Americans” live paycheck to paycheck
Every few months, the media tell us that – horrors! – 61% (or whatever) of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Left out of the breathless reporting is that this is pretty much where it always is, except during recessions when it goes up higher.
Media: Story contradicts itself in the first 3 bullet points!
Reporter self destructs in just 3 sentences, writing contradictory statements. The FAA temporarily suspended flights at Phoenix due to a telecommunications problem at Albuquerque Center located in New Mexico, having nothing to do with heat in Phoenix. But the reporter, incredibly, tries to link the temporary ground stop to temperatures in Phoenix. Oh my.
Media: An outstanding reporter – the late Jim McKay
One of the long ago greats in journalism, the late Jim McKay.
Climate communications: When air temperatures are normal, report “land surface temperature” – much scarier!
When the air temperature is hot, but not unusually hot, switch to reporting on the summertime ground surface temperature (80C/180F) – it’s a bigger and scarier number than the air temperature so go for it! But it, alas, it is actually a normal summertime land surface temperature and has been for years and years. But the Doomers at parody news site The Guardian know that their readers don’t know that.
Media hype: “Death Valley Just Had The Hottest Midnight On Record”
Rather than stick with facts, logic and reasoned arguments, the media has gone full yellow journalism, using exaggeration and hyperbole to sell eyeballs to advertisers. They’ve dived so far into nonsense territory as to render their climate reporting pointless, resulting in their message being tuned out.
National Geographic lays off it’s remaining staff writers
National Geographic magazine lays off all remaining staffers. Will now hire freelancers on contract basis.
Who writes news stories? – Newsroom demographics
Women account for 55% of newsroom jobs, while men account for 45%. Since 2 out of 3 journalism grads are now women, this will over time shift further towards news positions staffed primarily by women, the opposite of 40 years ago.
Female privilege?: An estimated 84% of social media influencers are female
Almost all social media influencers are women.