News Media Framing of Grassroots Innovations in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden

Abstract

This paper explores how grassroots innovations are being framed in the news media in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. By using framing analysis of newspaper items in the three countries, based on 30 cases, we identify that compared to literature on framing of renewable energy, the results show a prevalence of frames labeled as "social" as well as positive framing in the media when reporting about grassroots innovations. There are differences between the countries, as social frames are significantly more common in the Netherlands while innovation stands out in Denmark. We argue that this reflects the energy landscapes in the countries, as grades of centralization and to which extent the country has transformed the energy system impact on how the grassroots innovations are being reported. Aspects of energy democratization is reflected in the reporting's as emphasis is often on local connection and benefits for communities and individuals. We finally argue that there is need for more studies on framing on grassroots innovations.

Evaluating and improving social awareness of energy communities through semantic network analysis of online news

“…Indeed, the results show the focus of discussions around energy community on economic aspects, which are a key element to consider for their societal uptake. The economic implications of energy communities are often associated to the viability of renewable energy and related investments; this link is stressed in literature for a few other European countries [16] but not for all [79]. Therefore, the improvement of social acceptance of energy communities in Italy would benefit from communication campaigns clarifying economic aspects, such as the return on investment and long-term economic benefits, as well as realistic risks and complexities.…”

“…Although our study refers to a specific case, this finding could be exploited in broader contexts, given the internationally acknowledged primary social purpose of energy communities towards collective fair energy "prosumption". Local renewable energy initiatives have received high positive consideration from the media in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and [79],which are pioneers in the implementation of energy communities. In the democratic character involving citizens' cooperation is appreciated by the media in these countries.…”

“…In the democratic character involving citizens' cooperation is appreciated by the media in these countries. Indeed, Magnusson et al [79] show a prevalence of social frames in the media reporting about renewable energy innovations, which are generally presented in positive terms. Instead, in Italian online news, we find that more attention is paid to the economic implications of renewable energy communities rather than to their social aspects.…”

Energy Transition in the Baltic Sea Region

“…The project was called MobGIS (Linköping University, 2021) and focused on GIs and ECs in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The results have been presented in several papers (Kooij et al, 2018;Magnusson, 2018;Magnusson and Palm, 2019;Magnusson et al, 2021) and the results in this chapter are based on the material presented in these papers, with some supplementary literature and policy documents.…”

Facebook Groups in Sweden Constructing Sustainability: Resisting Hegemonic Anthropocentrism

“…3 Also, Swedish society is considered to be sensitive towards environmental issues, and there is a long tradition of environmental struggles and the ecological movement in the country. This environmental consciousness is reflected in Swedish mainstream media's content (Magnusson et al, 2021;Shehata & Hopmann, 2012) but also in non-professional and personal media, online and offline, and social media platforms such as Facebook, where news, comments and discussions about sustainability and the environment abound (Haider, 2016;Joosse & Brydges, 2018;Olausson, 2018).…”