David Kenny, CEO of the Weather Channel, is distancing the company from comments made by Weather Channel co-founder John Coleman on Megyn Kelly’s show earlier this week.
“Not only is the ice not melting, more polar bears are alive and happy today than we’ve had in 100 years,” Coleman told Kelly. The research behind climate change “is bad, bad science,” he says.
In a note to staff today, obtained by TVNewser, Kenny writes, “Mr. Coleman does have a place in our company’s history, and we appreciate the contributions he made more than 30 years ago. However, we want to be clear: John Coleman is no longer affiliated with our company, and his opinions do not represent The Weather Company. We regret any confusion this has caused.”
Coleman, 80, has worked in TV news for more than 60 years. He was the first weather anchor for “Good Morning America” in the 1970s. In 1981 he co-founded the Weather Channel. He’s also worked at WCBS in New York, WBBM, WLS and WMAQ in Chicago, and spent the last 20 years of his career KUSI in San Diego.
See Kenny’s full note after the jump…
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: TWC Announcements <twcannouncements@weather.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 11:53 AM
This week, several people inside and outside our company have asked about the comments John Coleman, a co-founder of The Weather Channel, has made in the media denying the science around climate change. Mr. Coleman does have a place in our company’s history, and we appreciate the contributions he made more than 30 years ago. However, we want to be clear: John Coleman is no longer affiliated with our company, and his opinions do not represent The Weather Company. We regret any confusion this has caused.
Across our platforms we explain clearly that we support the consensus science on climate change as shown by the IPCC and the 2014 National Climate Assessment. We are proud of our scientists who accurately represent the science in their writing, research and coverage. Of course, the work of Dr. Jeff Masters and Stu Ostro come to mind first. Just by reading their blogs or hearing them speak on the topic, you understand why it is so important for us to continue reporting on climate on all of our platforms.
For those asking for more or a place to point people, I recommend this Weather Underground article on climate change or The Weather Channel position statement. This is also in accordance with the United States military’s view on its importance for our national security. In addition, if you have not seen our recent “2050 video” produced in conjunction with the United Nations and WMO, it is a great example of how we can bring science to life for our viewers.
David Kenny