Pub Date : 2023-09-21DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2259625
Kyongseok Kim
ABSTRACTOne major challenge in communicating climate change to the public is the prevailing perception of it as a psychologically distant and abstract issue, which often leads to a lack of action. To tackle this challenge, environmental scholars and professionals have employed Construal Level Theory (CLT) to reduce the psychological distance associated with climate change and foster a more immediate and tangible perception of its risks. This study presents a comprehensive review of empirical research conducted between 2010 and 2021 that examines climate change communication within the framework of CLT. The analysis encompasses 68 articles, and the review uncovers a significant research gap. While reducing psychological distance to climate change appears to enhance awareness and concern about the issue, it does not consistently translate into climate engagement, such as pro-environmental intentions or behaviors. The study explores potential explanations for this gap and suggests future research directions to address this issue effectively.KEYWORDS: Climate changepsychological distanceconstrual levelcommunicationreview Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.Notes1 The entire list of the articles and their summaries is not included in this article due to its length, but it is available upon request.
{"title":"A Review of CLT-based Empirical Research on Climate Change Communication from 2010 to 2021","authors":"Kyongseok Kim","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2259625","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2259625","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACTOne major challenge in communicating climate change to the public is the prevailing perception of it as a psychologically distant and abstract issue, which often leads to a lack of action. To tackle this challenge, environmental scholars and professionals have employed Construal Level Theory (CLT) to reduce the psychological distance associated with climate change and foster a more immediate and tangible perception of its risks. This study presents a comprehensive review of empirical research conducted between 2010 and 2021 that examines climate change communication within the framework of CLT. The analysis encompasses 68 articles, and the review uncovers a significant research gap. While reducing psychological distance to climate change appears to enhance awareness and concern about the issue, it does not consistently translate into climate engagement, such as pro-environmental intentions or behaviors. The study explores potential explanations for this gap and suggests future research directions to address this issue effectively.KEYWORDS: Climate changepsychological distanceconstrual levelcommunicationreview Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.Notes1 The entire list of the articles and their summaries is not included in this article due to its length, but it is available upon request.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"2015 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136155654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-13DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2255388
Caroline Sassan, Priyanka Mahat, Melissa Aronczyk, Robert J. Brulle
The climate change counter-movement (CCCM) was created in 1989 immediately following the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Brulle, R. J. (2014). Institutionalizing delay: Foundation funding and the creation of US climate change counter-movement organizations. Climatic Change, 122(4), 681–694.) and has only deepened its public influence efforts since the Paris Agreement (Besley, T., & Peters, M. A. (2020). Life and death in the Anthropocene: Educating for survival amid climate and ecosystem changes and potential civilisation collapse. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 52(13), 1347–1357). Striving to spread alternative climate change narratives, the CCCM deploys what we characterize as Information and Influence Campaigns (IICs), multimedia campaigns executed by public relations (PR) contractors designed to influence public discourse toward specific conclusions – often by using certain value-laden rhetorical frames. In this paper, we identify the dominant objectives, activities, and rhetorical messaging frames constituting four major IICS surrounding the Waxman-Markey bill debates: one representing each of the three major fossil fuel industries along with the one significant “green” campaign of the era. By tracing the implementation of rhetorical frames across a diverse array of campaign activities to achieve discrete objectives, we demonstrate these fossil actors’ clear intentions to steer public opinion toward anti-environmental viewpoints through the use of strategic PR. When considered together with the significant resource advantage held by those that propagate these discourses, the stakes are enormous for both climate policy outcomes and the integrity of the public sphere.
气候变化反运动(CCCM)是1989年政府间气候变化专门委员会成立后立即产生的(Brulle, R. J.(2014))。制度化延迟:基金会资助和美国气候变化反运动组织的创建。气候变化，122(4)，681-694 .)，并且自《巴黎协定》以来只加深了其公共影响努力(Besley, T.， & Peters, M. A.(2020)。人类世的生与死:在气候和生态系统变化以及潜在的文明崩溃中为生存而教育。教育哲学与理论，52(13)，1347-1357。CCCM努力传播不同的气候变化叙事，部署了我们所描述的信息和影响运动(IICs)，这是由公共关系(PR)承包商执行的多媒体运动，旨在影响公众话语走向特定结论-通常通过使用某些承载价值的修辞框架。在本文中，我们确定了围绕Waxman-Markey法案辩论构成四个主要IICS的主要目标，活动和修辞信息框架:一个代表三个主要化石燃料行业以及一个重要的时代“绿色”运动。通过在一系列不同的竞选活动中追踪修辞框架的实施，以实现离散的目标，我们展示了这些化石参与者通过使用战略公关来引导公众舆论转向反环境观点的明确意图。当考虑到传播这些话语的人所拥有的重要资源优势时，对于气候政策结果和公共领域的完整性来说，利害关系都是巨大的。
{"title":"<i>Energy Citizens</i> “Just Like You”? Public Relations Campaigning by the Climate Change Counter-movement","authors":"Caroline Sassan, Priyanka Mahat, Melissa Aronczyk, Robert J. Brulle","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2255388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2255388","url":null,"abstract":"The climate change counter-movement (CCCM) was created in 1989 immediately following the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Brulle, R. J. (2014). Institutionalizing delay: Foundation funding and the creation of US climate change counter-movement organizations. Climatic Change, 122(4), 681–694.) and has only deepened its public influence efforts since the Paris Agreement (Besley, T., & Peters, M. A. (2020). Life and death in the Anthropocene: Educating for survival amid climate and ecosystem changes and potential civilisation collapse. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 52(13), 1347–1357). Striving to spread alternative climate change narratives, the CCCM deploys what we characterize as Information and Influence Campaigns (IICs), multimedia campaigns executed by public relations (PR) contractors designed to influence public discourse toward specific conclusions – often by using certain value-laden rhetorical frames. In this paper, we identify the dominant objectives, activities, and rhetorical messaging frames constituting four major IICS surrounding the Waxman-Markey bill debates: one representing each of the three major fossil fuel industries along with the one significant “green” campaign of the era. By tracing the implementation of rhetorical frames across a diverse array of campaign activities to achieve discrete objectives, we demonstrate these fossil actors’ clear intentions to steer public opinion toward anti-environmental viewpoints through the use of strategic PR. When considered together with the significant resource advantage held by those that propagate these discourses, the stakes are enormous for both climate policy outcomes and the integrity of the public sphere.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135740812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-06DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2253500
Lars Guenther, Hendrik Meyer, Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw, M. Brüggemann
ABSTRACT Future scenarios of a changing climate are not only an integral part of climate research, but they are also part of media coverage on climate change. Such reporting affects how people imagine the future to be, as well as their current and intended behaviors. Hence, this article made use of a quantitative, manual content analysis with qualitative and automated approaches for sample construction, to analyze the framing of climate futures in journalistic media across four countries (Germany, India, South Africa, and the United States; n = 1 010). Four frames were identified: “Solutions to climatic and social consequences”, “Distant threats to humanity”, “Economic opportunities”, and “Distant threats to ecosystems” – these frames describe different climate futures, with only a few differences between Global North and Global South countries. Implications for climate change communication will be discussed.
{"title":"A Distant Threat? The Framing of Climate Futures Across Four Countries","authors":"Lars Guenther, Hendrik Meyer, Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw, M. Brüggemann","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2253500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2253500","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT\u0000 Future scenarios of a changing climate are not only an integral part of climate research, but they are also part of media coverage on climate change. Such reporting affects how people imagine the future to be, as well as their current and intended behaviors. Hence, this article made use of a quantitative, manual content analysis with qualitative and automated approaches for sample construction, to analyze the framing of climate futures in journalistic media across four countries (Germany, India, South Africa, and the United States; n = 1 010). Four frames were identified: “Solutions to climatic and social consequences”, “Distant threats to humanity”, “Economic opportunities”, and “Distant threats to ecosystems” – these frames describe different climate futures, with only a few differences between Global North and Global South countries. Implications for climate change communication will be discussed.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"62 1","pages":"775 - 793"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85621920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-06DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2253499
Liang Chen, Wei Zheng, Lunrui Fu
ABSTRACT Using the cognitive mediation model, this study aims to examine how media attention affects knowledge of the ways to implement waste classification via different information processing strategies, and ultimately influences risk perception of noncompliance with waste classification and policy support for waste classification. A total of 1,011 Chinese citizens participated in our survey using convenience sampling. The results demonstrated that media attention enhanced individuals’ knowledge via elaboration. The knowledge acquisition subsequently increased risk perception, which, in turn, strengthened policy support for waste classification. Furthermore, the multigroup structural equation modeling was conducted to determine differences in the cognitive meditation model between males and females. Compared with females, males with a high level of risk perception were more likely to support waste classification policies. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed as well.
{"title":"Examining Factors Influencing Public Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Policy Support for Waste Classification: A Multigroup Comparison of the Cognitive Mediation Model Based on Gender Differences","authors":"Liang Chen, Wei Zheng, Lunrui Fu","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2253499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2253499","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Using the cognitive mediation model, this study aims to examine how media attention affects knowledge of the ways to implement waste classification via different information processing strategies, and ultimately influences risk perception of noncompliance with waste classification and policy support for waste classification. A total of 1,011 Chinese citizens participated in our survey using convenience sampling. The results demonstrated that media attention enhanced individuals’ knowledge via elaboration. The knowledge acquisition subsequently increased risk perception, which, in turn, strengthened policy support for waste classification. Furthermore, the multigroup structural equation modeling was conducted to determine differences in the cognitive meditation model between males and females. Compared with females, males with a high level of risk perception were more likely to support waste classification policies. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed as well.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"5 1","pages":"759 - 774"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86720329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-29DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2241652
Paula Castro, Miriam Rosa
ABSTRACT Activists are often negatively stereotyped and appraised, yet they can also influence the change they seek. This suggests that the dimensions and processes involved in their stereotyping and their influence are still unclear, as are the impacts of their argumentative style and the level of social consensus about the cause they defend. We focus on clarifying through an experimental study (n = 226): (1) how the argumentative style – radical or moderate – environmental activists employ and the level of societal consensus about their cause affect how they are viewed in three stereotypical dimensions (warmth, competence, and trustworthiness); (2) how these dimensions are associated with a general appraisal of the activist and with (3) respondents’ pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Results both corroborate and challenge previous findings, suggesting that activists are penalized on warmth, but not competence, that trustworthiness elicited by (radical) activists, and societal consensus play relevant roles. Suggestions for more nuanced communication strategies informed by these findings are discussed.
{"title":"Understanding the Paradoxical Effects of (Environmental) Activists and Their Discourses: When and How are They Penalized for Seeking Change?","authors":"Paula Castro, Miriam Rosa","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2241652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2241652","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Activists are often negatively stereotyped and appraised, yet they can also influence the change they seek. This suggests that the dimensions and processes involved in their stereotyping and their influence are still unclear, as are the impacts of their argumentative style and the level of social consensus about the cause they defend. We focus on clarifying through an experimental study (n = 226): (1) how the argumentative style – radical or moderate – environmental activists employ and the level of societal consensus about their cause affect how they are viewed in three stereotypical dimensions (warmth, competence, and trustworthiness); (2) how these dimensions are associated with a general appraisal of the activist and with (3) respondents’ pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Results both corroborate and challenge previous findings, suggesting that activists are penalized on warmth, but not competence, that trustworthiness elicited by (radical) activists, and societal consensus play relevant roles. Suggestions for more nuanced communication strategies informed by these findings are discussed.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"46 1","pages":"740 - 758"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88192158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-10DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2239516
Monika Taddicken, Laura Wolff
ABSTRACT Disinformation in today’s high-choice media environment, particularly regarding environment- and science-related issues, poses threats to individuals and society. It is argued that online users turn primarily to attitude-confirming content (selective exposure effects) which amplifies existing opinions and societal polarization. However, with the increasing prevalence of online disinformation and fake news, it is also likely that people will be exposed to disinformation that contradicts their current beliefs. Regarding the controversial issue of anthropogenic climate change, we elucidate how users react when they are (incidentally) exposed to counter-attitudinal anthropogenity-denying fake news by investigating their search and selection behavior after the exposure. The innovative research design of our case study includes pre- and post-surveys, stimulus exposure, and content analyses of web activities (n = 39). Importantly, the exposure to climate-change-denying fake news decreased acceptance of climate change and its human causes. Selection behavior was mainly attitude-confirming, while search behavior was more diverse. Journalistic sources were used most often and for longest. Individual characteristics affected searches and selections. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS In the information-saturated online environment comprising scientifically correct and incorrect information, users are frequently exposed to counter-attitudinal fake news, e.g. videos denying anthropogenic climate change. After exposure to an attitude-opposing fake news video, participants’ climate change acceptance decreased. In a free internet search after stimulus exposure, attitude-confirming anthropogenity-accepting positions and journalistic content dominated users’ selection but not search behavior. Future climate change-related communication activities should note that participants who stated they knew little about climate change knowledge were mainly interested in solution-oriented websites. The higher participants’ willingness to take personal responsibility or acknowledge others’ responsibility, the more they searched for anthropogenity-opposing content.
{"title":"Climate Change-related Counter-attitudinal Fake News Exposure and its Effects on Search and Selection Behavior","authors":"Monika Taddicken, Laura Wolff","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2239516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2239516","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Disinformation in today’s high-choice media environment, particularly regarding environment- and science-related issues, poses threats to individuals and society. It is argued that online users turn primarily to attitude-confirming content (selective exposure effects) which amplifies existing opinions and societal polarization. However, with the increasing prevalence of online disinformation and fake news, it is also likely that people will be exposed to disinformation that contradicts their current beliefs. Regarding the controversial issue of anthropogenic climate change, we elucidate how users react when they are (incidentally) exposed to counter-attitudinal anthropogenity-denying fake news by investigating their search and selection behavior after the exposure. The innovative research design of our case study includes pre- and post-surveys, stimulus exposure, and content analyses of web activities (n = 39). Importantly, the exposure to climate-change-denying fake news decreased acceptance of climate change and its human causes. Selection behavior was mainly attitude-confirming, while search behavior was more diverse. Journalistic sources were used most often and for longest. Individual characteristics affected searches and selections. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS In the information-saturated online environment comprising scientifically correct and incorrect information, users are frequently exposed to counter-attitudinal fake news, e.g. videos denying anthropogenic climate change. After exposure to an attitude-opposing fake news video, participants’ climate change acceptance decreased. In a free internet search after stimulus exposure, attitude-confirming anthropogenity-accepting positions and journalistic content dominated users’ selection but not search behavior. Future climate change-related communication activities should note that participants who stated they knew little about climate change knowledge were mainly interested in solution-oriented websites. The higher participants’ willingness to take personal responsibility or acknowledge others’ responsibility, the more they searched for anthropogenity-opposing content.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"27 1","pages":"720 - 739"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90567650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-08DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2237693
Heleen Dekoninck, Ellen Van Houtven, D. Schmuck
ABSTRACT The affordances of digital platforms have blurred the boundaries between environmentalism, celebrity status, and science communication. As such, nowadays, many social media influencers – who have risen to fame due to successful self-branding – act as educators and role models for environmental matters. To illuminate the appeal of green influencers and the relationship they develop with their followers, we conducted in-depth interviews employing a novel digital go-along approach. Findings suggest that relationships with green influencers are fueled by the entanglement of relational and substantive environmental content. This mix underlies followers’ perceptions of sharing a reality and perceiving the influencer as a super peer. As for the characteristics of the follower-influencer bond, we show that followers appreciate the potential for reciprocity, while the relationship itself remains mainly asymmetric. We furthermore elucidate three key components that explain the unique appeal of influencers’ environmental communication: nuanced environmentalism, perceived reproducibility and trust in autodidactic expertise. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS Influencers’ ability to provide reproducible environmental recommendations make them valuable collaboration partners for pro-environmental organizations and political actors. Youth especially appreciate that influencers offer non-judgmental, nuanced pro-environmental advice, which informs other pro-environmental actors trying to reach young people. Ascribing credibility to influencers based on their autodidactic skills rather than due to their formal training puts young people at risk of misinformation, which should be accounted for in influencer support programs, media literacy trainings, and public awareness campaigns.
{"title":"Inspiring G(re)en Z: Unraveling (Para)social Bonds with Influencers and Perceptions of Their Environmental Content","authors":"Heleen Dekoninck, Ellen Van Houtven, D. Schmuck","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2237693","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2237693","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The affordances of digital platforms have blurred the boundaries between environmentalism, celebrity status, and science communication. As such, nowadays, many social media influencers – who have risen to fame due to successful self-branding – act as educators and role models for environmental matters. To illuminate the appeal of green influencers and the relationship they develop with their followers, we conducted in-depth interviews employing a novel digital go-along approach. Findings suggest that relationships with green influencers are fueled by the entanglement of relational and substantive environmental content. This mix underlies followers’ perceptions of sharing a reality and perceiving the influencer as a super peer. As for the characteristics of the follower-influencer bond, we show that followers appreciate the potential for reciprocity, while the relationship itself remains mainly asymmetric. We furthermore elucidate three key components that explain the unique appeal of influencers’ environmental communication: nuanced environmentalism, perceived reproducibility and trust in autodidactic expertise. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS Influencers’ ability to provide reproducible environmental recommendations make them valuable collaboration partners for pro-environmental organizations and political actors. Youth especially appreciate that influencers offer non-judgmental, nuanced pro-environmental advice, which informs other pro-environmental actors trying to reach young people. Ascribing credibility to influencers based on their autodidactic skills rather than due to their formal training puts young people at risk of misinformation, which should be accounted for in influencer support programs, media literacy trainings, and public awareness campaigns.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"12 1","pages":"701 - 719"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82196157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-08DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2244187
Sheau Wen Ong, Fong Wei Diong
ABSTRACT Public knowledge regarding environmental problems is determined by how new sources frame the issues in specific terms. Media images of Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, drowning in plastic waste are rife after China’s import ban. The concern is mounting over the uneven distribution of environmental and health burdens between developed and developing countries. Despite the growing perils of plastic pollution, there is no comparative analysis available on environmental news coverage in Malaysian mainstream and alternative media. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the differences in the framing of plastic pollution over four years. Quantitative content analysis of The Star’s and Malaysiakini’s coverage between January 2018 and December 2021 showed that controversy is the most frequently used frame for describing respective governments’ standpoints. Additionally, Malaysian newspapers are similar in their selection of primary issue definers. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.
{"title":"Malaysia’s Media Framing of Plastic Pollution: The Case of Imported Plastic Waste","authors":"Sheau Wen Ong, Fong Wei Diong","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2244187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2244187","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Public knowledge regarding environmental problems is determined by how new sources frame the issues in specific terms. Media images of Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia, drowning in plastic waste are rife after China’s import ban. The concern is mounting over the uneven distribution of environmental and health burdens between developed and developing countries. Despite the growing perils of plastic pollution, there is no comparative analysis available on environmental news coverage in Malaysian mainstream and alternative media. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the differences in the framing of plastic pollution over four years. Quantitative content analysis of The Star’s and Malaysiakini’s coverage between January 2018 and December 2021 showed that controversy is the most frequently used frame for describing respective governments’ standpoints. Additionally, Malaysian newspapers are similar in their selection of primary issue definers. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"12 1","pages":"689 - 700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81617541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-25DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2235919
R. Neubauer, Nicolas Graham, H. Krobath
ABSTRACT This paper provides a content and discourse analysis of the Facebook activity of pro-fossil fuel advocates in Canada, including industry-funded and independent groups. It explores how the fossil fuel industry and its allies have reacted to growing public demand for climate action by adopting a “subsidised public strategy,” in which elites provide stakeholders with resources to participate in an organized campaign. We argue that pro-oil advocacy groups utilize their Facebook pages to exercise “connective leadership,” in which key social media accounts strategically shape internet-enabled social movements by promoting mobilization opportunities, connecting supporters with diverse content, and reframing that content to communicate a coherent “extractive populist” storyline positioning “Canadian Energy” as a national public good under attack by foreigners and elites. We thereby provide insight into how industry and its allies leverage platform affordances to promote populist politics on Facebook to defend industry in the face of the climate crisis.
{"title":"Defending “Canadian Energy”: Connective Leadership and Extractive Populism on Canadian Facebook","authors":"R. Neubauer, Nicolas Graham, H. Krobath","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2235919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2235919","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper provides a content and discourse analysis of the Facebook activity of pro-fossil fuel advocates in Canada, including industry-funded and independent groups. It explores how the fossil fuel industry and its allies have reacted to growing public demand for climate action by adopting a “subsidised public strategy,” in which elites provide stakeholders with resources to participate in an organized campaign. We argue that pro-oil advocacy groups utilize their Facebook pages to exercise “connective leadership,” in which key social media accounts strategically shape internet-enabled social movements by promoting mobilization opportunities, connecting supporters with diverse content, and reframing that content to communicate a coherent “extractive populist” storyline positioning “Canadian Energy” as a national public good under attack by foreigners and elites. We thereby provide insight into how industry and its allies leverage platform affordances to promote populist politics on Facebook to defend industry in the face of the climate crisis.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"67 1","pages":"634 - 652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91239208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-21DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2023.2237204
Yilei Wang, Hua Wang, D. Feng
ABSTRACT As China’s environmental problems have been thrust into the limelight of both domestic and international media, the Chinese government is eager to present a positive country image in terms of environmental planning and protection. Against this backdrop, this study aims to investigate how a “Green China” image is constructed through state-sanctioned eco-documentaries. Drawing on the Attitude System in Appraisal theory and multimodal discourse analysis, the study develops an analytical framework to investigate country image as semantic categories, as well as how it is constructed through multimodal resources. The analysis shows that these documentaries create an eco-friendly country image through: (1) highlighting the significance and desirability of the Chinese landscape (appreciation), (2) constructing a positive image of Chinese social actors in terms of environmental protection (judgment), and (3) depicting non-human characters’ happiness and security of living in China (affect). These positive attitudes reflect and constitute China’s green image branding practices shaped by the entangled forces of the Party-state’s rejuvenation of traditional culture, its development of globally competitive green technologies, and its promotion of participatory environmental governance.
{"title":"Aesthetics, Technology, and Social Harmony: Constructing a “Green China” Image Through Eco-documentaries","authors":"Yilei Wang, Hua Wang, D. Feng","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2237204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2237204","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT As China’s environmental problems have been thrust into the limelight of both domestic and international media, the Chinese government is eager to present a positive country image in terms of environmental planning and protection. Against this backdrop, this study aims to investigate how a “Green China” image is constructed through state-sanctioned eco-documentaries. Drawing on the Attitude System in Appraisal theory and multimodal discourse analysis, the study develops an analytical framework to investigate country image as semantic categories, as well as how it is constructed through multimodal resources. The analysis shows that these documentaries create an eco-friendly country image through: (1) highlighting the significance and desirability of the Chinese landscape (appreciation), (2) constructing a positive image of Chinese social actors in terms of environmental protection (judgment), and (3) depicting non-human characters’ happiness and security of living in China (affect). These positive attitudes reflect and constitute China’s green image branding practices shaped by the entangled forces of the Party-state’s rejuvenation of traditional culture, its development of globally competitive green technologies, and its promotion of participatory environmental governance.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":"30 1","pages":"671 - 687"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88840301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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