S2, E2: How does media control the climate change narrative? We need to talk about eco-anxiety
In the second episode of season two, We Need to Talk about Eco-Anxiety, Clover dives into how our media has shaped the climate narrative in the past, and how we can leverage it to accelerate climate action.
First up, Clover speaks with filmmaker and fellow climate activist, Jack Harries, about what woke him up to the climate crisis; as well as why, in his words, it’s been the ‘story we failed to tell.’ We then hear from young people around the world sharing how media impacts their eco-anxiety; our resident psychotherapist, Caroline Hickman, on how to navigate these climate emotions; and finally the President Int’l of the New York Times, Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, on how legacy media should step up to communicate the climate crisis.
Featuring…
Jack Harries: Co-founder of Earthrise Studio
Jack Harries is a documentary photographer, filmmaker and activist. In 2011 he created JacksGap, a successful YouTube channel and blog that has over 4 million subscribers. Through his work, Jack raises awareness about the climate crisis, forced migration and mental health. Over the last few years, he has covered environmental stories in Greenland, Somaliland, Bhutan and Kiribati.
Three things we talked about in the episode:
How Jack navigates feelings of overwhelm.
Accepting what we have already lost to the climate crisis, including its immediate doomsday impacts, in order to ask: what comes next?
How platforms like the BBC had given rise to climate misinformation - while outlets like the New York Times are largely stuck 'sounding the alarm'.
Caroline Hickman, resident psychotherapist
Caroline is a psychotherapist from the University of Bath, who has spent years researching children and young people’s relationships with nature and feelings about the climate and ecological crisis; in the UK, Maldives, South Pacific and other communities already affected by rising sea levels.
In their conversation, Caroline and Clover discuss the importance of travelling into our feelings while learning the stats and facts.
Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President, International of The New York Times Company
Stephen Dunbar-Johnson is the president, International of The New York Times Company. Stephen is responsible for the oversight and strategic development of the Times Company’s international businesses. Dunbar-Johnson was appointed president, International for The New York Times Company in October 2013 to lead the global expansion of the company.
In their conversation, Stephen discusses what it will take to wake people up to the crisis, without shutting them down.
Quotes from the episode
"If we look at the climate story over the last 30 - 40 years very often it has focused on doom and gloom, and denial. We have failed to communicate the human impact. Which is a shame because, as people, we are moved by human stories. If we instead said that in 30-40 years they'll be food shortages and crops will fail en masse, suddenly that animal instinct within us wakes up. In many ways, climate change is the story we failed to tell."
- Jack Harries
"We have to give people the honour of telling them the truth about the climate crisis."
- Caroline Hickman
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Read the Bloom
How does the media control the climate narrative
I have always felt privileged growing up so close to the beach and the mountains: constantly surrounded by nature. At a young age I became aware of…
Have you listened to season 1 yet?
In this 9-part series, Clover sits down with the people who are leading the charge: from the woman who started a global movement out of her backyard; to the lawyer responsible for the world’s most historic climate agreement; and a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
A Force of Nature and OneFinePlay production
Director: Clover Hogan
Studio: OneFinePlay
Executive producer: James Bishop
Editor & producer: Kasra Firouzyar
Producer & researcher: Connor Foley
Additional creative support: Selena Christofides
With special thanks to everyone who makes Force of Nature possible!
Phoebe Hanson, Kathleen Hamilton, Alejandra Arias, Sacha Wright, Vida Han, Zineb Jaoudat and Rohan Shah.