Cross-National Coverage of Water Handling: A Community Structure Approach

Comparing Cross-National Coverage of Genetically Modified Organisms: A Community Structure Approach

“…The positive correlation of poverty level, percent of a population without access to improved water services, and fertility rate with favorable coverage of GMOs cross-nationally is consistent with similar connections of "vulnerability" and favorable coverage of GMOs throughout the United States (Pollock et al, 2010). This vibrant "vulnerability" pattern linking measures of marginality with coverage favorable to the interests of vulnerable groups is also consistent with other crossnational community structure studies, including those focusing on coverage of HIV/ AIDS access (Etheridge et al, 2014), water handling/contamination (Wissel et al, 2014), child labor (Kohn & Pollock, 2014), coastal contamination (Kordomenos et al, 2016), and transit migration (O'Brien et al, 2016).…”

“…Kohn and Pollock (2014) found that a country's GDP per capita was connected to variations in media coverage, concluding that the higher a country's GDP per capita, the less media emphasis on government responsibility to regulate child labor. Consistently, another study discovered that the higher a nation's literacy rate, the less newspapers emphasized government responsibility in regard to water handling and water contamination (Wissel et al, 2014). In accord with previous findings, it is likely that coverage of GMO usage will align with the violated buffer hypothesis, as privileged and well-educated individuals will be less trusting of modern technology and more concerned with the long-term health effects of GMO consumption.…”

“…Media access is also a prominent stakeholder when discussing core societal issues. Wissel et al (2014) found that the more freedom of the press and the higher percentage of population covered by a mobile phone network, the "less" media emphasis on government responsibility for clean water access. A study on cross-national coverage of child labor (Kohn & Pollock, 2014) disagreed with the clean water study that freedom of the press is associated with "less" media emphasis on government responsibility for that issue.…”

“…In addition, the higher the percentage of a nation’s population younger than 15, the greater the media emphasis on government responsibility to reduce child labor (Kohn & Pollock, 2014). Similarly, the higher the infant mortality rate, the greater the media emphasis on government responsibility for water handling/contamination (Wissel et al, 2014). Several cross-national indicators of “vulnerability” are linked to media emphasis on “government responsibility” for assistance in addressing major concerns.…”

“…Additional cross-national studies found complementary patterns: The higher the percent of a country’s population satisfied with the water services is linked to media coverage, in particular less media emphasis on “government” responsibility for child labor (Kohn & Pollock, 2014). In complementary fashion, the higher the percentage without access to improved water services , the more emphasis on “government” responsibility for water handling/contamination (Wissel et al, 2014). Both studies validate the significance of access to water services.…”