Cheryl (@leo29.bsky.social)

Only 4% of national TV news segments about Hurricane Hilary mentioned climate change During coverage of Hurricane Hilary's unprecedented landfall in California — where it struck as a tropical storm after swiftly intensifying to a Category 4 hurricane due to abnormally warm waters, broke rainfall records in Southern California and four other states, and marked the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years — major TV news networks largely ignored the clear signals of climate change driving Hilary’s unique path and rapid intensification. From August 18-21, a Media Matters analysis found: National TV news broadcasters — ABC, CBS, and NBC — and major cable news networks — CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News — covered Hurricane Hilary for 18 hours and 38 minutes across 430 segments. Only 4% of the 430 segments and weathercasts about Hurricane Hilary across national TV news mentioned the role climate change played in the storm. Major cable news networks – CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC – aired 16 hours and 59 minutes of coverage across 369 segments or weathercasts about Hurricane Hilary. Only 17 cable news segments mentioned the connection between the storm and climate change; MSNBC mentioned it 9 times, and CNN mentioned it 8. Corporate broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, and NBC – aired a combined 1 hour and 39 minutes across 61 segments or weathercasts that discussed Hurricane Hilary. ABC aired the only broadcast news climate mentions during coverage of the storm, with 2 segments mentioning climate change. https://www.mediamatters.org/broadcast-networks/only-4-national-tv-news-segments-about-hurricane-hilary-mentioned-climate-change