That implies that the "media" is some sort of monlithic group of a single mind. Such is not the case; it isn't hard at all to find two elements of the media that have drastically different content and worldviews.
Also, forecasters will always present the worst case scenario because they have to; overwarning is always better than underwarning, hence the "as many as" beginning of the statement. Anyone who takes that as meaning that there will definitely be 18 (or at least 18) hurricanes in 2025 is misinterpreting what they are saying.
