The news about climate change: a critical analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage of climate change

Date

2011-08-17

Authors

Garrison, Laena

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Abstract

This research involved an analysis of Canadian newspaper coverage of climate change between 2005 and 2010. Drawing on the theory of critical discourse analysis, and the method of content analysis, this research identified the major and minor subject themes, the most and least frequently cited information sources and the dominant ideological stances reflected in The Globe and Mail, The National Post and The Toronto Star reporting on climate change. Political figures were the primary information source, and politics, mitigation and economics were the major themes. Science was also a major theme in The Post, which emphasized scientific uncertainty, an emphasis not present in The Globe or The Star. Critical analysis revealed support for different values and political preferences, indicative of a neoliberal capitalist ideology in The Post, a social democratic ideology in The Star, and a swaying between the two ideological poles in The Globe.

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Keywords

climate change, news, media, Canadian newspapers, content analysis, critical discourse analysis, ideology, power, ideological stances, subject themes, information sources

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