NPR Senior Climate Editor Offers Insights on Extreme Weather

Why it matters locally: New Mexico, like other Western states, frequently experiences extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves. NPR's internal guidance on contextualizing these events could inform reporting that helps New Mexico residents understand the role of climate change in local phenomena.

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Rebecca Hersher, NPR's senior climate editor, provides internal guidance to the newsroom when extreme weather events occur. Hersher states this guidance helps staff understand the role of climate change in these situations. Hersher's role involves equipping journalists with information to contextualize weather phenomena for their audiences. A photograph shows a woman walking in downtown Houston, Texas, on July 30, 2026. She walks in the shade during a regional heat wave. Ronaldo Schemidt of AFP via Getty Images took the photograph.