Source Influence on Journalistic Decisions and News Coverage of Climate Change

Abstract

Across many parts of the globe the relationship between journalists and news sources has been transformed by digital technologies, increased reliance on public relations practitioners, and the rise of citizen journalism. With fewer gatekeepers, and the growing influence of digital and social media, identifying whose voices are authoritative in making sense of complex climate science proves an increasing challenge. An increasing array of news sources are vying for their particular perspective to be established including scientists, government, industry, environmental NGOs, individual citizens and, more recently, celebrities. The boundaries between audience, consumer and producer are less defined and the distinction between ‘factual’ and ‘opinion-based’ reporting has become more blurred. All these developments suggest the need for a more complex account of the myriad influences on journalistic decisions. More research needs to examine behind-the-scenes relations between sources and journalists, and the efforts of news sources to frame the issues or seek to silence news media attention. Also although we now know a great deal more about marginalized sources and their communication strategies we know relatively little about those of powerful multinational corporate organizations, governments and lobby groups. The shifting media environment and the networked nature of information demand a major rethinking of early media-centric approaches to examining journalist/source relations as applied to climate change. The metaphors of ‘network’ and field’ capture the diverse linkages across different spheres better than the Hierarchy of Influences model.

Climate journalism in a changing media ecosystem: Assessing the production of climate change‐related news around the world

“…first began to gather news media attention in the early to mid‐1980s, scientists were the principal news sources[.] However, from the late 1980s politicians increasingly influenced the agenda and it moved from being a story largely confined to specialist science sections to a more general news item focusing on political controversy [in which] journalists increasingly relied on political sources (Anderson, 2017, p. 469).…”

Accommodating interests? Elite journalism, green interest groups and the U.K. reporting of climate change

“…At other times, groups receive some success in aligning their messages to news media outlets (Lester, 2011) and in the timing of press releases to intervene in the ongoing reporting of issues (Hansen, 2010). In practice, these messages are designed to include metaphors and narratives (Anderson, 2017) that will interrupt and/or replace those identified common to journalistic story lines. Combined with the information subsidies on issues that groups have developed, these strategies have allowed them to exert some control over news media attention (Nisbet & Huge, 2006).…”

Moving Society to a Sustainable Future: The Framing of Sustainability in a Constructive Media Outlet

“…(2) Where solutions are mentioned, they tend to be reported "with a negative bias" (Bonfadelli, 2009, p. 275) by presenting the most optimal ones as ultimately impossible to implement due to their high economic costs. (3) News articles tend to rely on a narrow range of sources from government and mainstream business (Bonfadelli, 2009;Diprose et al, 2017;Lewis, 2000;, which is not dissimilar to reporting on climate change and the environment (Anderson, 2017;Hansen, 2010) as well as general news reporting trends (Hall et al, 1978). The reliance on sources from government and mainstream business in sustainability reporting has prompted critiques that the media reinforce the preferred meanings or sustainability frames of powerful groups and institutions (Donohue, Tichenor, & Olien, 1995).…”