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Even now, when scientists say we’ve done irreversible damage to our planet, corporate and legacy news outlets won’t give up the fossil fuel dollars.

By Alex Kotch and Maria Bustillos, Sludge

Who’s to blame for a lack of action on climate change? The oil companies, most obviously; PR and ad agencies, paid to hire chipper young adults urging viewers to become “energy voters”; Politicians who carry water for the fossil fuel industry. These are all easy to blame.

An oil refinery in operation near Mt. Baker in Washington State. This refinery is emitting quantities of steam or other pollutants. Taken near sunset, the refinery is relatively dark and ominous.

But without the complicity of corporate and legacy media, none of the fossil fuel industry’s propaganda would fly. Outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post have been allies of the fossil fuel industry for decades, not only running their ads but helping to create them.

Even now, when scientists say we’ve done irreversible damage to our planet, these and other media giants won’t give up the fossil fuel dollars.

Creating ‘Issue Ads’ for Big Oil

When Mobil Oil and the Times teamed up to create the advertorial in the 1970s, their spin doctors admitted freely that the goal of the partnership was to “influence the influencers.” In fact, part of the original legal push for corporate personhood in the U.S. stems from those early Mobil campaigns.

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