Climate: Where were balance and objectivity?

Re: “2015 hottest year on record” (TNT, 1-21).

I was appalled at the lack of objectivity in this article, as well as the effort to discredit scientists who have differing views on the subject.

The article was simply a rehash of the talking points from NASA and NOAA, agencies that have been thoroughly politicized on the topic of global warming.

Is it possible that these agencies ignored satellite data because it contradicted their conclusions and instead totally relied on data from ground-based instruments, which notoriously exaggerate temperature increases?

The Associated Press writer, sadly, didn’t reveal the slightest skepticism about this tactic. The only “balance” in about 25 column inches was one line about “non-scientists” who reject “mainstream” climate science.

This is intended, no doubt, to discredit the credentials of scientists such as the 37,000 plus, including more than 9,000 with Ph.Ds, who signed onto the Petition Project (petitionproject.org) and take issue with official global warming dogma.

There was a time when the press was a watchdog over the government, skeptical and vigilant. Now it appears satisfied to be a mouthpiece for the government, uncritically swallowing, hook, line and sinker, official government press releases.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 1:35 PM with the headline "Climate: Where were balance and objectivity?."