Sky News Australia is a global hub for climate misinformation, report says

The analysis, published by UK thinktank the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky News Australia consistently ranked highly for traction, pushing the partisan views of its hosts and guests to a global audience through social media networks.

The report looked at how views antagonistic to climate change action are spread around the world, how the content is created, and who is influential in spreading those views.

The report claims Sky News Australia produced its own partisan content through the views of its hosts, and also provides a platform for influential individuals from around the world who undermine the need to act on the climate crisis

The analysis showed that before 2017, Sky News Australia posted an average 25 tweets a month on climate-related issues. But they now publish an average of more than 100 posts a month, with peaks of up to 300 a month.

Another aim, he said, was to detail to advocates for action on climate change how disinformation travels around the world.

More broadly, the report said that climate change denial and attacks on renewables often coexisted with anti-trans and anti-lockdown sentiments, as well as misinformation on the pandemic.