Love Your Mother: How One News Magazine Defined and Refined Environmental Journalism

A frame analysis of climate change solutions in legacy news and digital media

“…We also found that legacy news and digital media still report on climate change impacts, which is necessary to communicate the climate crisis. Mostly, these findings confirmed past research that found framing climate solutions in terms of generalities (Matthews, 2020; Painter et al, 2018; Terracina-Hartman, 2019; Tschötschel et al, 2020). For example, climate solution stories generally mentioned solutions like global warming, energy and sustainability and visuals typically were of environmental quality like planting trees, commuting or public transportation, eco-friendly materials or packaging and educational activities featuring young people learning about eco-friendly behaviors.…”

“…A codebook was developed using climate change frames identified and validated in past research (e.g., Hart & Feldman, 2014, 2016; Lough & Ashe, 2021; Nisbet, 2009; Painter et al, 2018; Terracina-Hartman, 2019). Recording units included the following:…”

“…A codebook was developed using climate change frames identified and validated in past research (e.g., Hart & Feldman, 2014, 2016Lough & Ashe, 2021;Nisbet, 2009;Painter et al, 2018;Terracina-Hartman, 2019) After news stories met the search criteria, two graduate students were trained to code the selected stories. The unit of analysis was the entire article, including both text and visuals.…”

“…Like magazines, digital-born media, blogs and social media cater to interested audiences looking for more engaging and point-of-view stories, easy access and the ability to foster a sense of community with others about matters important to them (Seelig, 2016; Williams-Turkowski & Sternadori, 2019). They have the flexibility of their business and funding model, resources, culture and willingness to report timely news and information, including the complexities associated with reporting on climate change not provided in legacy media (Painter et al, 2018; Terracina-Hartman, 2019).…”