Mass media and environmental issues: a theoretical analysis
A critique of the weak empirical and theoretical foundations of commentaries on the mass media in the environmental literature argues that they stem from the incidental rather than fundamental concern for the social dimensions of environmental problems. The contributions of information theory, cybernetics, sociology, and political science to micro and macro theories of mass communications are reviewed. Information from empirical analyses of the mass media's portrayal of social issues, including the environment, is related to Hall's dominant ideology thesis of the mass media and the elitist-conflict model of society. It is argued that the media's portrayal of environmental issues is structured by dominant power-holding groups in society with the result that the media effectively function to maintain and reinforce the status quo to the advantage of these dominant groups. 78 references.
- Research Organization:
- King Alfred's College, Winchester, Great Britian
- OSTI ID:
- 5266294
- Journal Information:
- Int. J. Environ. Stud.; (United States), Vol. 15:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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