ExxonMobil and Columbia journalism school clash on climate change cover up

The dean of Columbia University School of Journalism defended a team of graduates whose reporting riled ExxonMobil. The students’ reports ignited scrutiny of the company’s cover up of climate change research. ExxonMobil accused the team of unethical reporting. (Politico, December 1, 2015, by Elana Schor and Hadas Gold)

Dean Steve Coll’s letter said that the letter from ExxonMobil Vice President Kenneth P.Cohen consisted mostly of personal attacks and was not supported by evidence. Columbia had collaborated with The Los Angeles Times and foundations to produce two articles in October that revealed that on climate change ExxonMobil’s public position differed from its internal planning. (The New York Times, December 1, 2015, by Ravi Somaiya)

A USAToday editorial on November 29, 2015 argues that if New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman brings a case against ExxonMobil for duplicity in its positions on climate change, the case raises “serious First Amendment concerns.”