At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies

Climate science rejectionist Patrick Moore’s new book, Fake Invisible Catastrophes and Threats of Doom, has been promoted by a constellation of media and special interest groups around the world that share his views. However, its success as an “environmental science” bestseller on Amazon, has also b...

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Main Author: Sean Holman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: J-Schools Canada / Écoles-J Canada 2022-05-01
Series:Facts & Frictions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://factsandfrictions.ca/portfolio-item/holman/
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author Sean Holman
author_facet Sean Holman
author_sort Sean Holman
collection DOAJ
description Climate science rejectionist Patrick Moore’s new book, Fake Invisible Catastrophes and Threats of Doom, has been promoted by a constellation of media and special interest groups around the world that share his views. However, its success as an “environmental science” bestseller on Amazon, has also been the result of support it received from mainstream news media outlets and ecommerce companies. Using a narrative reconstructed with investigative reporting techniques, this case study will apply gatekeeping theory to explore how those who platformed or publicized Moore’s fake invisible catastrophes argument failed to make its accuracy a determinant in doing so, instead prioritizing other concerns, such as freedom of expression and promoting a diversity of viewpoints.
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publisher J-Schools Canada / Écoles-J Canada
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series Facts & Frictions
spelling doaj-art-aedb247e125f4a0dbc38d2fc85d7d1102025-08-20T02:06:58ZengJ-Schools Canada / Écoles-J CanadaFacts & Frictions2816-23662022-05-01122741http://doi.org/10.22215/ff/v1.i2.02At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce CompaniesSean Holman0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8098-6329University of VictoriaClimate science rejectionist Patrick Moore’s new book, Fake Invisible Catastrophes and Threats of Doom, has been promoted by a constellation of media and special interest groups around the world that share his views. However, its success as an “environmental science” bestseller on Amazon, has also been the result of support it received from mainstream news media outlets and ecommerce companies. Using a narrative reconstructed with investigative reporting techniques, this case study will apply gatekeeping theory to explore how those who platformed or publicized Moore’s fake invisible catastrophes argument failed to make its accuracy a determinant in doing so, instead prioritizing other concerns, such as freedom of expression and promoting a diversity of viewpoints.https://factsandfrictions.ca/portfolio-item/holman/climate changeclimate change skepticismclimate science denialdisinformationgatekeeping theorymass mediamisinformation
spellingShingle Sean Holman
At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
Facts & Frictions
climate change
climate change skepticism
climate science denial
disinformation
gatekeeping theory
mass media
misinformation
title At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
title_full At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
title_fullStr At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
title_full_unstemmed At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
title_short At the Gate of Disaster: A Case Study on the Promotion of Climate Science Rejectionism by Mainstream News Outlets and E-Commerce Companies
title_sort at the gate of disaster a case study on the promotion of climate science rejectionism by mainstream news outlets and e commerce companies
topic climate change
climate change skepticism
climate science denial
disinformation
gatekeeping theory
mass media
misinformation
url https://factsandfrictions.ca/portfolio-item/holman/
work_keys_str_mv AT seanholman atthegateofdisasteracasestudyonthepromotionofclimatesciencerejectionismbymainstreamnewsoutletsandecommercecompanies