This study surveys Colorado reporters to examine the state of local science and environmental journalism. Despite budget cuts and the loss of specialist reporters, local news outlets continue to cover science and the environment with generalists.
The authors use an experimental pilot survey to examine the effects of message framing on a local environmental topic-urban development. Researchers focus on liberal respondents and find that scientists are considered the most credible sources of environmental information. However, some respondents appear less likely to agree that the inclusion of scientific information or jargon increases a news story's credibility or persuasiveness. The paper then discusses the significant potential implications that the findings have for public deliberation and the role of experts in public discourse.
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