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Cultural Circuits of Climate Change in U.K. Broadsheet Newspapers, 1985–2003

Author

Listed:
  • Anabela Carvalho
  • Jacquelin Burgess

Abstract

This article argues for a cultural perspective to be brought to bear on studies of climate change risk perception. Developing the “circuit of culture” model, the article maintains that the producers and consumers of media texts are jointly engaged in dynamic, meaning‐making activities that are context‐specific and that change over time. A critical discourse analysis of climate change based on a database of newspaper reports from three U.K. broadsheet papers over the period 1985–2003 is presented. This empirical study identifies three distinct circuits of climate change—1985–1990, 1991–1996, 1997–2003—which are characterized by different framings of risks associated with climate change. The article concludes that there is evidence of social learning as actors build on their experiences in relation to climate change science and policy making. Two important factors in shaping the U.K.'s broadsheet newspapers' discourse on “dangerous” climate change emerge as the agency of top political figures and the dominant ideological standpoints in different newspapers.

Suggested Citation

  • Anabela Carvalho & Jacquelin Burgess, 2005. "Cultural Circuits of Climate Change in U.K. Broadsheet Newspapers, 1985–2003," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(6), pages 1457-1469, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:25:y:2005:i:6:p:1457-1469
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00692.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baruch Fischhoff, 1995. "Risk Perception and Communication Unplugged: Twenty Years of Process," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 137-145, April.
    2. G Myers & P Macnaghten, 1998. "Rhetorics of Environmental Sustainability: Commonplaces and Places," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(2), pages 333-353, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Boutilier, Robert G., 2020. "Narratives and networks model of the social licence," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    2. Dejan N. Zec, 2024. "Media framing of sustainability: The case of British pharmaceutical companies (2000–2020)," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 4001-4019, August.
    3. Norehan Jinah & Kun Yun Lee & Nor Haniza Zakaria & Nursyahda Zakaria & Munirah Ismail, 2024. "Media framing on news of the Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) movement in Malaysia: a quantitative content analysis of two Malaysian newspapers," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Catherine Happer & Laura Wellesley, 2019. "Meat consumption, behaviour and the media environment: a focus group analysis across four countries," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(1), pages 123-139, February.
    5. Abiodun Kolawole Oyetunji & Temitope Omotayo & Sam Zulu, 2025. "Influence of Flood Risk Awareness and Communication on Real Estate Investment Decision-Making," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    6. Ralf Barkemeyer & Philippe Givry & Frank Figge, 2018. "Trends and patterns in sustainability-related media coverage: A classification of issue-level attention," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(5), pages 937-962, August.
    7. Kapranov Oleksandr, 2025. "A Meeting Point of Culture, Royalty, and the Environment: Analyzing the Discourse on Sustainability by the Royal Ballet and Opera in London," Culture. Society. Economy. Politics, Sciendo, vol. 5(2), pages 43-59.
    8. Ralf Barkemeyer & Frank Figge & Andreas Hoepner & Diane Holt & Johannes Marcelus Kraak & Pei-Shan Yu, 2017. "Media coverage of climate change: An international comparison," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(6), pages 1029-1054, September.
    9. Suzannah Evans Comfort & Edson Tandoc & Mike Gruszczynski, 2020. "Who is heard in climate change journalism? Sourcing patterns in climate change news in China, India, Singapore, and Thailand," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 327-343, February.

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