Climate change: Reuters says 'no change' in editorial policy

A Reuters spokesperson provided the following statement: “Reuters is committed to providing fair and independent coverage of climate change that complies fully with the Trust Principles. Reuters has a number of staff dedicated to covering this story, including a team of specialist reporters at Point Carbon and a columnist. There has been no change in our editorial policy.”

Thomson Reuters Point Carbon provides news, analysis and consulting services for European and global power, gas and carbon markets. Its 55,000 clients include the world’s major energy companies, financial institutions, organisations and governments in more than 150 countries.

David Fogarty, formerly climate change correspondent for Asia, said in a letter to The Baron on Monday that he had left the organisation earlier this year after being told climate change “just wasn’t a big story for the present” and his role was abolished.

“Progressively, getting any climate change-themed story published got harder. It was a lottery. Some desk editors happily subbed and pushed the button. Others agonised and asked a million questions. Debate on some story ideas generated endless bureaucracy by editors frightened to take a decision, reflecting a different type of climate within Reuters – the climate of fear,” he wrote. ■