Thesis
Examining media representations and risk perceptions of water issues
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101386
Abstract
Media representations are key to forming public risk perceptions and informing water conservation and health promotion behaviors. A media analysis and experimental study were conducted to examine how the media framed the public health risks associated with water resource issues, and subsequently, how those representations potentially affect risk perceptions. Newspaper articles focused on water resource issues published during a three-year timeframe from January 2012 to December 2014 in a sample of newspapers were analyzed. The findings revealed that the vast majority of stories focused on instances of water contamination and weather events. Though seldom mentioned, the majority of water-related health risks reported were those with direct and immediate impacts. These results found that the media coverage of water issues may not necessarily reflect the range of water issues facing the United States or their potential health implications. An experiment was then conducted to examine the potential influence of media framing on risk perceptions of drought. Risk perceptions did not vary significantly with the use of frame, however, trends emerged across conditions, suggesting that the perceived distance or proximity of water issues may be a factor in informing perceptions.
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Details
- Title
- Examining media representations and risk perceptions of water issues
- Creators
- Alyssa Marie Mayeda
- Contributors
- Amanda Boyd (Chair)Jessica Kay Fitts Willoughby (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Strategic Communication, Department ofGraham Dixon (Committee Member) - Washington State University
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525026401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis