Climate Change in Unscripted
Our researchers have recently expanded upon the work we did analyzing scripted film/television content to measure the prevalence of climate and sustainability-related topics in unscripted television shows. We analyzed over 200,000 hours of unscripted TV on 48 U.S. broadcast and cable TV channels during a six-month period from September 2022 to February 2023. The unscripted TV genre is wide-ranging and highly popular, encompassing docuseries, reality TV, home and cooking shows, travel and lifestyle series, competition and game shows, sports, comedy and talk shows, paranormal series, and informational programming.
Results will be published in the summer of 2024. |
Climate Change in Scripted
We analyzed scripts from 37,453 TV episodes and films that aired in the US media market between 2016 and 2020, finding only 2.8% mentioned any of 36 climate-related keywords. A full report of findings will be released in the summer of 2022.
Our survey of 2,000 Americans found most are hard pressed to even name a fictional TV or film addressing the climate crisis beyond the 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow. However, those who are most alarmed about climate change tend to also be more hopeful about solutions, and those who are hopeful are 3.5 times more likely to say they want to see these stories in fictional entertainment. Read more. |
Extrapolations: the Impact Study
Extrapolations is Apple TV+'s new groundbreaking anthology series about the life-altering choices that must be made in a changing climate. In partnership with Rare and Good Energy, we will measure the impact of this important series in the first quantitative study of a major scripted climate storyline in nearly two decades.
Stay tuned! |
Plastic Pollution in Hollywood
Our research team examined 32 popular television shows from the 2019-2020 season in the first-ever analysis of the portrayal and prevalence of single-use plastics and reusable alternatives in popular scripted television shows. We found them awash in single-use plastics, with an average of 28 items per episode. The research was supported by the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
More |
HH&S: Climate Emergency Resources
The Lear Center’s own Hollywood, Health & Society program provides the entertainment industry with free, expert information and other resources on climate change.
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The Norman Lear Center's Media Impact Project researches how entertainment and news influence our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and actions. We work with researchers, the film and TV industry, nonprofits, and news organizations, and share our research with the public. We are part of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
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