Due to their coverage of climate change, meteorologists across the globe are encountering an escalating amount of hostile criticism, some of which has even crossed the line into outright abuse.
For precisely this reason, the head weather forecaster at Iowa's KCCI is currently resigning from his position. According to the Des Moines Register, Chris Gloninger, a Regional Emmy winner for his environmental reporting, announced his surprise departure from television after 18 years with a "quick goodbye" on Twitter on Wednesday.
Gloninger tweeted about his decision to pursue a career in climate consulting, and KCCI has noted this. He wrote, "I've decided to begin this journey *now* after a death threat resulting from my climate coverage last year that resulted in PTSD, in addition to family health issues. Gloninger said that leaving his TV job would also enable him and his wife "to help our families in their time of need" in his 6 p.m. newscast on Wednesday. Last year, Gloninger wrote on Twitter about the death threat and how it was "followed by a flow of harassing emails" from the same person.
He wrote, "The stream of harassing emails is even more distressing, of course, than the threat. It indicates that he is thinking about it nonstop. He is filled with hatred and enraged about it. The experience was "mentally draining," Gloninger said, adding, "at times I have NOT been ok." I'm trying to put it behind me," he says in a statement to the Washington Post. But I also believe it raises awareness of the challenges journalists face in reporting the news on a daily basis. Gloninger, who worked for KCCI for two years, will cease broadcasting on July 7.
For precisely this reason, the head weather forecaster at Iowa's KCCI is currently resigning from his position. According to the Des Moines Register, Chris Gloninger, a Regional Emmy winner for his environmental reporting, announced his surprise departure from television after 18 years with a "quick goodbye" on Twitter on Wednesday.
Gloninger tweeted about his decision to pursue a career in climate consulting, and KCCI has noted this. He wrote, "I've decided to begin this journey *now* after a death threat resulting from my climate coverage last year that resulted in PTSD, in addition to family health issues. Gloninger said that leaving his TV job would also enable him and his wife "to help our families in their time of need" in his 6 p.m. newscast on Wednesday. Last year, Gloninger wrote on Twitter about the death threat and how it was "followed by a flow of harassing emails" from the same person.
He wrote, "The stream of harassing emails is even more distressing, of course, than the threat. It indicates that he is thinking about it nonstop. He is filled with hatred and enraged about it. The experience was "mentally draining," Gloninger said, adding, "at times I have NOT been ok." I'm trying to put it behind me," he says in a statement to the Washington Post. But I also believe it raises awareness of the challenges journalists face in reporting the news on a daily basis. Gloninger, who worked for KCCI for two years, will cease broadcasting on July 7.
