Evaluation of climate change coverage across news sources in selected Malaysian electronic newspapers

Abstract

Climate change is a serious threat to the survival of our society. It causes unpredictable and extreme weather that endangers human and natural lives. Human activities such as carbon emissions, waste dumping, and deforestation worsen the problem. News media can play a key role in educating people and encouraging positive actions to protect the environment. This study analysed news-related content on the effects of climate change reported via various means of information and examined the extent of coverage for such information. There exist significant disparities in the characteristics of the information disseminated by various news platforms, with social media as the most frequent platform for sharing climate change information. Broadcast media and online news outlets are less common. Print media is the least outlet while some sources are unknown. There are no consistent patterns in the impact of climate change as reported by news outlets. These findings provide valuable insights into the current media landscape by delineating its portrayal of climate change.