The Long-Term Impacts of the Chilean Mining Rescue Coverage

The Guardian reports today that the BBC spent so much money covering the rescue of 33 Chilean miners this week that it will have to cut back on coverage of a number of important upcoming events.

One of the first items on the chopping block: key United Nations climate talks in Cancun at the end of the year. The Guardian, citing a leaked memo from the BBC, says the news agency will send just one correspondent to the Cancun summit. The BBC sent 26 staffers to Chile to cover the mining disaster and rescue at a cost of 100,000 pounds or more than $160,000.

There’s been a lot of criticism of the coverage of the miners’ rescue in the last couple days, with some arguing that news organizations have thrown too many resources at this story — as incredible as it was — while cutting coverage of important new events that may not be as compelling. The Cancun meeting, though negotiators are not expected to reach a binding treaty, is certainly an important news event.

The Guardian reports that other important events are getting short shrift too, including the Davos World Economic Forum.