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The coverage of cultured meat in the US and UK traditional media, 2013–2019: drivers, sources, and competing narratives

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  • James Painter

    (University of Oxford)

  • J. Scott Brennen

    (University of Oxford)

  • Silje Kristiansen

    (State University of New York)

Abstract

‘Cultured’ meat has attracted a considerable amount of investor and media interest as an early-stage technology. Despite uncertainties about its future impact, news media may be contributing to promissory discourses, by stressing the potential benefits from cultured meat to the environment, health, animal welfare, and feeding a growing population. The results from a content analysis of 255 articles from 12 US and UK traditional media from 2013 to 2019 show that much of the coverage is prompted by the industry sector, whose representatives are also the most quoted. Positive narratives about cultured meat are much more prominent than cautionary ones. Our findings support previous scholarship on other emerging technologies which concluded that with important variations, media treatments are largely positive.

Suggested Citation

  • James Painter & J. Scott Brennen & Silje Kristiansen, 2020. "The coverage of cultured meat in the US and UK traditional media, 2013–2019: drivers, sources, and competing narratives," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2379-2396, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02813-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02813-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susanna Hornig Priest, 2008. "North American audiences for news of emerging technologies: Canadian and US responses to bio- and nanotechnologies," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(7), pages 877-889, October.
    2. Elie Dolgin, 2019. "Sizzling interest in lab-grown meat belies lack of basic research," Nature, Nature, vol. 566(7743), pages 161-162, February.
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    4. Vilella-Vila, Marta & Costa-Font, Joan, 2008. "Press media reporting effects on risk perceptions and attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) food," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 2095-2106, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gagnon, Mark A. & Broad, Garrett & Grandison, Kelia & Chiles, Robert M., 2022. "AgriTech investor and informant perspectives about cellular agriculture," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 26(01), September.
    2. Howard, Philip H. & Ajena, Francesco & Yamaoka, Marina & Clarke, Amber, 2021. "'Protein' Industry Convergence and its Implications for Resilient and Equitable Food Systems," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 5.
    3. Leonore Lewisch & Petra Riefler, 2023. "Cultured meat acceptance for global food security: a systematic literature review and future research directions," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Räty, Niko & Tuomisto, Hanna L. & Ryynänen, Toni, 2023. "On what basis is it agriculture?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

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