Open AccessNews selection and framing: the media as a stakeholder in human–carnivore coexistence
Author(s) -
Ugo Arbieu,
Guillaume Chapron,
Christos Astaras,
Nils Bunnefeld,
Steven Harkins,
Yorgos Iliopoulos,
Marion Mehring,
Ilka Reinhardt,
Thomas Mueller
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/ac05ef
Subject(s) - carnivore , livelihood , framing (construction) , media coverage , news media , stakeholder , popular media , selection (genetic algorithm) , geography , political science , sociology , public relations , media studies , ecology , biology , computer science , law , archaeology , predation , agriculture , artificial intelligence
The media widely covers large carnivores and their impacts on human livelihood and plays an important role in their conservation. Yet, we know little about how species identity affects news selection, framing, accuracy and information flow. We investigated the online coverage of two cases of attacks or alleged attacks on humans alternatingly attributed to wolves and dogs in Greece and Germany. The period during which wolves were considered the primary suspects for the attacks was covered by up to two times more articles than when dogs were suspected. Wolves were presented as more likely suspects for the attacks than dogs, and wolf articles contained more inaccuracies measured as title-text mismatches. Press agencies played a significant role in the selection and dissemination of wolf news. We suggest that conservation scientists, journalists and policy makers work together to ensure an accurate representation in the media of human–carnivore coexistence and its challenges.