Journalism’s visual construction of place in environmental coverage

Abstract

This study builds on our understanding of how visual journalism is used with environmental reporting to create a sense of place and understanding. Although most American photojournalism tends to favor close-up photos with people, environmental coverage leans opposite: sweeping landscape photos devoid of people. However, our content analysis of wire and non-wire environmental photos on U.S. newspaper front pages shows support that person-focused feature imagery is being used more, though mostly at an informational level.

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

“…This finding aligns with past research that asserted response efficacy presents a generalized outcome to combat climate change (Corner et al, 2015; Feldman & Hart, 2016). However, we know from past research that framing climate solutions using familiar terms oversimplifies and desensitizes the audience from focusing on viable solutions, and neglecting these issues may skew people’s understanding of interventions that will lessen climate threats (Lough & Ashe, 2021; O’Neill, 2020; Weathers & Kendall, 2016; Xie, 2015). Nonetheless, these findings are noteworthy in that they indicate modest progress in communicating solutions to combat climate threats (Harrison et al, 2020; Nabi et al, 2020; Viteri & Takahashi, 2019).…”

“…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:…”

“…The unit of analysis was the entire article, including both text and visuals. ReCal was used to check intercoder reliability appropriate for nominal data (Freelon, 2013; Lough & Ashe, 2021; Lough & McIntyre, 2019). Intercoder reliability was conducted on approximately 10% of a subsample of stories not included in the final study (or 30 of 283).…”

“…Research also found banal imagery of people, places and spaces, such as romanticized portrayals of people engaging with nature or polar bears floating on ice caps (Lester & Cottle, 2009; Wang et al, 2018). However, such imagery does little to effectively convey the severity of climate change or explain climate science (Chapman et al, 2016; Lough & Ashe, 2021; Rebich-Hespanha et al, 2015). Research suggests, “people feel disconnected from what they view or a responsibility to do something because the story is not something local or relatable, so they do not see how their actions have a direct or immediate impact” (Seelig, 2019, p. 64).…”

“…Yet, while fear-evoking imagery may draw attention to the climate crisis, they have been unsuccessful in motivating behavioral change because people generally feel powerless (Metag et al, 2016; Nabi et al, 2018; O’Neill & Nicholson-Cole, 2009). In addition, other studies found that the news media’s visuals misrepresent or contradict stories about climate change (Hart & Feldman, 2016; Lough & Ashe, 2021; Rebich-Hespanha et al, 2015). However, when imagery fails to match text or is treated in isolation, this affects the public’s understanding of climate threats and how to respond (Feldman & Hart, 2018b; Lough & McIntyre, 2019).…”