African Media and the Global Climate Change Discourse: Implications for Sustainable Development

by Open Science Repository Communication and Journalism
(November 2013)

Abstract

The article highlights how the quality of coverage and framing of climate change in African countries contributes to perpetuating the global imbalances in the climate change discourse and overall sustainable development. Premised within the agenda-setting and framing theoretical frameworks, the analysis is informed by findings from a research, where we analyzed the coverage of climate change and environment issues in the Ugandan media. Findings reflected that media are not putting climate into proper context to raise public awareness and influence their engagement in climate debates and subsequent action. Several gaps identified related to the journalists’ capacity and thus increased support for journalism training is recommended to empower journalists to put the issues in the local and global perspectives as well as their link to sustainable development. Having a better informed citizenry and positive climate responses, this should contribute to the realization of sustainable development.

Keywords: agenda-setting, climate change, news framing, sustainable development, vulnerability.

Full text

African Media and the Global Climate Change Discourse: Implications for Sustainable Development