Media Representation: Environment

Abstract

Abstract Charting the historical development of research on media and the environment since the emergence of the environment as an issue of public and political concern in the 1960s, this entry outlines the key theoretical influences and approaches to mediated representations of the environment and environmental issues. Dominant trends and findings from research on news media coverage of environmental issues and controversy are outlined and discussed in relation to research on environmental journalism, source influence on media coverage, agenda‐setting processes, and wider implications for public and political understanding and action with regard to the environment. The advantages of longitudinal and comparative research are outlined, as is their contribution to understanding key influences on the media and the public career of environmental issues. The emergence of visual environmental communication research is discussed and key findings outlined. Finally, an outline of nonnews media representations (film, entertainment television, advertising) of the environment is offered.