Climate change news coverage, partisanship, and public opinion

Partisan polarization on the issue of climate change has longed been attributed to the influence of media on public opinion. However, shifts in media coverage—including a general increase in coverage, greater acceptance of the scientific consensus, and an increase in catastrophic framing—highlight the importance of revisiting how exposure to climate change news shapes citizens’ attitudes. Drawing from a nationally representative survey of 2175 U.S. adults conducted in 2023, this study examines how partisanship is related to exposure to climate change news in six types of outlets. Further, it explores how exposure to climate change news influences climate change concern and efficacy beliefs. While partisanship does not influence general exposure to climate change news, Democrats and Republicans differ in the types of outlets they prefer. Additionally, increased exposure is associated with greater climate change concern and self-efficacy, though partisanship moderates the effect of exposure on climate change concern. Finally, exposure to climate change news in newspapers, radio, and podcasts is associated with reduced response efficacy and collective efficacy. These findings suggest that the media’s influence on public opinion related to climate change is, indeed, changing.