photograph: Ricardo Staccato / pr
Andrew Freedman, senior climate reporter at Axios and author of the Daily Axios Generate Newsletter, is an award-winning journalist who has covered extreme weather and climate science for over 15 years. Friedman, a former editor of the Washington Post, holds a Masters degree in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts’ Fletcher School and has an MA in Columbia’s climate and society.
On Tuesday, April 8th, Friedman returned to Columbia Climate School. Lectures on the Signature Speaker Series“Going to Extreme: Living at the Forefront of Climate Journalism.” The planetary state spoke with Friedman ahead of his upcoming lecture on his work as a climate reporter, his challenges and opportunities on the ground, and what keeps him motivated.
How did you start as a journalist and climate reporter?
I was a grown-up weather nerd. I was also interested in journalism and politics. It wasn’t until the university that I discovered climate change as a political issue and realized that I combined everything that interested me.
After being an undergraduate, I came to DC and worked for NOAA for a while, then moved to a journalist covering Capitol Hill, focusing more and more on climate change. There are several detours here and there, and with two alumni programs, I’ve returned to journalism and have been covering climate change since 2003.
What are the biggest changes you noticed in this field about the public response to climate change reports, about 20 years from now?
I think climate change has become a very current issue from a theoretical future issue. When I started, science was more contested. They had to cite scientists and cite ‘skeptics’. Now there is a very rich and diverse ecosystem of climate reporting. I’m not talking about the 2100 anymore, I’m using a computer model. We are talking about climate disasters and impacts today.
The political situation has clearly changed. We are not in a particularly suitable place to achieve big things in the climate. This is the most modest thing I can say. We were in a government that fired on every cylinder on climate change, whether you agreed to their approach or not.
tHis information landscape is also changing. In some cases, there are media outlets and billionaires who are in charge of their reporting. How do you think that will affect how news is delivered and we need to think about reporting?
My job is to report on my best ability, what is actually happening. It’s a political action that fires many people or triggers more important actions that could come at NASA and NOAA, whether it’s a research study in climate science. We are looking at earthquake changes in how science is funded and carried out at the federal level, and we are asked basic questions about whether we continue to accurately predict data on climate science, or whether we are free to share the data.
We were fortunate to be in a place that was very dedicated to reporting the truth. We are not one of the publications that we think have rebalanced based on our current administration. It’s the truth that’s going on and I think every journalist has to think about things we don’t need to think about before.
wWhen you report, do you think of it as your audience? How does that affect your writing?
I co-authorize daily newsletters. Our audiences think of audiences, from oil and gas industry executives to lobbyists, Capitol Hill people, people with climate interests and industries born around them. Therefore, those who may be interested in how the clean technology and energy industry is changing. The audience on the website is different. It’s much broader. When I think of web audiences, I think of everyday people.
Axios Mantra is extremely audience-first. The way you see us is that the story and the length of the story is driven by this desire not to waste someone else’s time, and really chase after why something is important and why you need to know about it. It’s actually the most difficult type of writing I’ve ever had to do.
“When I started, science was more contested. You had to balance your story. [by] Quoting the scientist, then “skeptic.” Now there is a very rich and diverse ecosystem of climate reporting. ”
yThe OU has a very unique bullet point format in Axios. Have you ever felt constrained or do you think it will help you get to the point?
It definitely makes you think about what’s really important before you write. I’m not saying it’s constrained, but writing a climate science story in that style can be very difficult, especially if you cover complex research in a scientific journal. At the same time, it really helps to get key ideas in top research. When I interview someone or read a report, do I always do that with the mindset of what to say to someone who’s only interacting with them in the elevator for 30 seconds? Because it’s time for people to look at something on their phones or computer screens at work.
Even from top-level scientists in international arenas that frequently make it easy for short policymakers on climate science, I got feedback that it really helps them to do a short, point briefing to prevent them from coming in and preventing the Prime Minister or Minister from leaving the room and listening to the 30 slide presentation.
You have a Colombian climate and society MA. Has this experience changed your approach to your work in any way or has it helped?
I exist at the intersection of extreme weather and climate change. That’s where I really focused on a lot of my work. I didn’t think I could do it as much as I could without going through the program. My Colombian degree helped me to cover everything from climate science and El Niño to the turning point of the climate system. I took classes on climate law, disasters, geoscience and journalism. I think [the M.A.] It was a great help to provide a knowledge base to have a better source list, read more skeptical research, and understand how to better report scientific research.
cCan you tell us a little about your upcoming talk at Climate School?
Well, I’m a deadline reporter… so although that may have been partially written the night before, I want to talk about my experiences in climate journalism. I would like to talk about how Colombia has changed what I do. I think that in many cases people are thinking about how media works or don’t fully understand it. I’d like to pull the curtain back a bit and talk about what I’m going through my head as I’m getting closer to the story, some stories I’ve written about what I’m particularly proud of, and some trends I’m not that proud of. It’s not a long PowerPoint presentation. That can be said to you now. I want to interact with the audience.
You are reporting on a rather difficult topic. How do you stay motivated and make sure the issues don’t reach you? What do you do to relax?
Very good question. One of the stories I did involve exploring climate anxiety, so it becomes a lecture. But I don’t know how to do that. I think I have to emotionally separate myself from things for a lot of time. I’ve been deeply involved in improvisation and guest comedy for over a decade and trained in New York, DC and Chicago. I talk with other climate reporters about what it’s like to cover this issue and they help me stay sane. My family is based on me. I think I’m trying to focus on the normal things as much as possible.
We all have a role to play [climate change]if you choose. I need to remember that telling stories of any climate is not this huge burden on my shoulders. There are many great reporters out there doing great things. If you get a little overwhelmed, you have to pull back a bit. It is a constant battle between peeling and sinking certain things, especially when you have children. Climate forecasting means it’s different than before.
