ii MEDIA FRAMING OF GLOBAL WARMING: THE INFLUENCE OF OBJECTIVITY AND MEDIA FILTERS IN THE CLAIMS OF POLITICIANS AND SCIENTISTS

This thesis examines the relationship between politics and science in news stories of global warming to show that the news media does not necessarily gravitate toward the side of politics over the side of science. This study first examines political sources and frames versus scientific sources and frames in newspaper stories of global warming from 1985 through 1998 to determine which side—politics or science—has the most influence in the news media. It compares the average use of each type of source during predetermined political and scientific ‘events. ’ It is not until the Kyoto Protocol that political sources outnumber scientific sources. Also, the newspaper frames over time largely lean toward the side of politics. Following this finding, the study investigates how the newspaper coverage of that time portrays the Kyoto Protocol. It finds that coverage is inclined toward topics favoring the Kyoto Protocol, and therefore the scientific consensus. Rather than dominate the news coverage, the side of politics converges with the side of science. In-depth interviews with science journalists provide evidence journalists rely heavily on the principle of iii objectivity, and, subsequently, scientists in their coverage of scientific issues. Media filters, or the norms within journalism, explain why stories still present minority opinions among scientists. iv I would like to thank everyone in my family—especially my parents and my sisters—who have always given me encouragement, inspiration and support. I would also like to thank Dr. JP Singh and Dr. Diana Owen, who have provided m