In Syrup Story, NBC Avoids Sappy Slant, ABC Stuck to Warming Hype

March 26th, 2007 4:33 PM

The Vermont syrup industry is in jeopardy because of changing climate, according to ABC "World News with Charles Gibson" from March 24.

Reporter Bob Jamieson called it "A truly New England business that may one day disappear."

Jamieson interviewed Tom Branon and his wife, who run a sugaring business in Vermont. Branon told ABC "springs are coming earlier" and "winters are less harsh." Then the ABC reporter mentioned researchers who say the state is caught in a "long-term warming trend" that might eventually cause the decline of the industry.

But NBC "Nightly News" proved that the syrup story didn't have to be doom and gloom. Instead, NBC focused on a sugar farmer's decision to adapt. "Some years, like last year, we lost out. We lost the first run, but I'm not worried this year. We're going to-we're almost fully tapped," said Burr Morse to "Nightly News."