189364 Tracking the Public Health Frame in News Coverage of Climate Change

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 1:00 PM

Matthew C. Nisbet, PhD , School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC, DC
     
As scientists, health professionals, and their institutions seek to inform key audiences about the public health implications of climate change, news coverage will be a primary, if not central, communication channel. Yet little is known about how journalists and news organizations tend to cover this important dimension of the climate change. This study analyzes twenty years in trends in climate change coverage at the major national and regional newspapers, tracking patterns in attention, the major thematic focus or framing of coverage, and the major actors or sources featured. Implications are discussed for understanding the events and the types of news pegs that are likely to generate news attention to the public health implications of climate change; the sources that are traditionally favored; and how journalists typically characterize the public health dimension.

Learning Objectives:
As scientists, health professionals, and their institutions seek to inform key audiences about the public health implications of climate change, news coverage will be a primary, if not central, communication channel. Yet little is known about how journalists and news organizations tend to cover this important dimension of the climate change. This study analyzes twenty years in trends in climate change coverage at the major national and regional newspapers, tracking patterns in attention, the major thematic focus or framing of coverage, and the major actors or sources featured. Implications are discussed for understanding the events and the types of news pegs that are likely to generate news attention to the public health implications of climate change; the sources that are traditionally favored; and how journalists typically characterize the public health dimension.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Academic researcher in field and specific area.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Communicating the Public Health Aspect of Climate Change
See more of: Environment