CBS Stations is launching a news franchise called On the Dot with David Schechter.
The franchise comes out of the station group’s Local News Innovation Lab and is focused on the causes and impacts of climate change. The in-depth stories come from CBS Stations national environmental correspondent David Schechter and senior photojournalist/producer Chance Horner, and a team of producers and data journalists.
“The objective of On the Dot with David Schechter is to make climate change more relevant and personal to viewers,” said Chad Cross, vice president of content development at CBS Stations. “We’ll make the science and data compelling and easier to understand.”
CBS said each long form story features cinematic videography and is “uniquely produced” to take the audience on a journey of discovery with Schechter. “He virtually transports viewers to places where scientists are measuring and documenting climate change,” said the station group.
“Most people know something about climate change, but may not fully get it,” said Schechter. “We want to provide the facts and show the science to grow our viewers’ knowledge and understanding. I think of it as giving them ‘climate confidence,’ and that’s the real value of these stories.”
The first special report, Carbon Dioxide: The Invisible Problem, will appear in local newscasts and streams of CBS Stations this week and starts with the fundamentals of climate change. It takes viewers to the top of a Hawaiian volcano where scientists have calculated the highest levels of atmospheric carbon pollution in 4 million years.
Upcoming stories will explore the rising sea level and the increasing extremes of storms, droughts and wildfires.
“Destructiveness of extreme weather is one of the biggest stories of our time. On the Dot reflects the commitment of CBS Stations to talk about the causes as much as the effects of climate change,” said Adrienne Roark, president of CBS Stations.
The franchise name, On the Dot, is inspired by the idea that, seen from the vastness of space, we all live together on a tiny, blue dot.