Environmental Racism and Media Framing: A Qualitative Analysis of Major News Outlets??? Input of Environmental Issues

This research explores media framing on environmental issues and race in relational to environmental racism. The main purpose of this study is to explore media framing of environmental issues in connection to colored and poor communities. My paper consists of a context analysis of major news media sources, such as the New York Times and Fox News. I will examine their coverage, or lack of coverage, of environmental issues and I will compare the results with coverage from Hispanic news outlets like, Primer Impacto. I will argue that if and when news media sources do concern themselves with environmental issues, they tend to focus on issues affecting white affluent communities; where most have the opportunity to migrate to a safer location, or have the influence to fight the environmental injustices present in their community. Lastly, I will attempt to argue that people of color, compared to white individuals are portrayed as if they are not concerned with environmental issues. My literature review will allow me to justify my conclusion. Articles such as, ???The Cultural Politics of Environmental Justice Activism: Race and Environment-Making in the Contemporary Post-Civil Rights Period,??? by Kimberly R. Allen, and Shirley V. Truong???s article, ???Please do Not Feed the Homeless: the Role of Stereotyping and Media Framing on the Criminalization of Homelessness,??? provide an example of how media framing can produce negative sentiments, and show that colored communities are not any less concerned with environmental issues as the media might suggest