Abstract
Simple SummaryThree major Iranian daily newspapers were analysed for news items relating to wildlife, covering a 7-year study period. Wildlife items were characterised by public awareness (51%), columnist contributions (46%), and local spatiality (43%). Most items (82%) were allocated space of less than half a page. Results highlighted the minimal number and small space devoted to wildlife news items in Iranian newspapers.Human response to wildlife management is widespread, encompassing both human–wildlife conflicts and wildlife conservation, in different places and at different times. As people become increasingly aware of the importance of wildlife to biological and environmental sustainability, newspapers can be important sources of information, especially in developing countries, such as Iran. Three major Iranian daily newspapers were analysed for news items related to wildlife. Over the 7-year study period, 434 articles presented environmental news, of which 61 items referred to wildlife. Each wildlife item was recorded in terms of message, contributor, spatiality, and allocated space. Structure query language (SQL) was used to analyse relationships between the 915 fields/entries. Wildlife items were characterised by public awareness (51%), columnist contributions (46%), and local spatiality (43%). Most items (82%) were allocated space of less than half a page. Of the categorised topics, those of combined endangered land (30%) and marine (5%) species exceeded items on global conservation (24%). Results highlighted the minimal number and small space devoted to wildlife news items and their concentrations (67%) in one of the three sampled newspapers. Although nature has historically been important in Iranian culture, current attitudes to wildlife, as reflected in newspaper coverage, do not seem to mirror these traditional perspectives. Given the widespread distribution of newspapers and their roles (i.e., as sources of information and opinion influencers), global wildlife conservation issues would benefit from much greater coverage in the daily press.
Highlights
Introduction iationsContemporary urban populations encounter wildlife—in one way or another—on a daily basis
Our research showed that wildlife news published at the national level constituted 23% of news items and that 26% of wildlife news items were related to the international category (Table 2)
Analyses of news items are rare in Iran, so our research on Iranian newspaper reporting can augment the existing paucity of coverage in this field
Summary
The preceding literature review reveals a shortage of analytical assessments of global wildlife news, in particular, in western Asia, including Iran, despite the broader problem being acknowledged. As one of the countries in this region, hunting for wildlife was documented for Iran. Geographical, and geological zones, which have created unique opportunities for wildlife, national parks, and human-made/natural forests and reserves across humid and dryland areas [38,39]. Persian gardens are regarded as lush oases in the midst of vast deserts where water shortages and harsh winds are the enemies of plants. In contrast to this apparent nature-loving affiliation of Iranians, less favourable or nil narrations exist to depict Iranian desires for respecting wildlife. Once endangered species become extinct through lack of public awareness or concern, efforts to reverse wildlife losses may be difficult or impossible
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