Hydropower in the News: how Journalists do (not) Cover the Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs of Dams in Brazil

IF 3 3区社会学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture Pub Date : 2022-08-18 DOI:10.1080/17524032.2022.2115095

Rachel R. Mourão, Gisele Neuls, K. Ninni

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite massive environmental impacts and socioeconomic risks, hydropower dams continue to be widely adopted and unquestioned in developing countries. This study analyzes two decades of mainstream media coverage of dams in Brazil, where two-thirds of energy consumption comes from hydropower. Through a content analysis of news articles published by the largest outlets in the country, we found coverage has relied on official and construction companies’ voices and focused on economic progress, bureaucracy, corruption, and partisan politics. News rarely covered the socio-environmental risks and impacts caused by dams or questioned the country’s reliance on hydropower. Overall, newspapers presented dams as highly necessary projects for national progress, conforming to a modernization-oriented mindset prevalent in newsrooms when it comes to coverage about energy. As a result, journalism has contributed to the invisibility of the struggles faced by people and the environment directly impacted by hydropower dams.

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新闻中的水电:记者如何(不)报道巴西大坝的环境和社会经济成本

尽管存在巨大的环境影响和社会经济风险，水电大坝在发展中国家仍被广泛采用，而且没有受到质疑。这项研究分析了20年来主流媒体对巴西水坝的报道，巴西三分之二的能源消耗来自水力发电。通过对该国最大媒体发表的新闻文章的内容分析，我们发现报道依赖于官方和建筑公司的声音，并专注于经济进步、官僚主义、腐败和党派政治。新闻很少报道大坝造成的社会环境风险和影响，也很少质疑国家对水电的依赖。总的来说，报纸将水坝描述为国家进步的高度必要项目，符合新闻编辑室在报道能源时普遍存在的现代化导向思维。因此，新闻报道使得人们所面临的斗争和受水电站大坝直接影响的环境被忽视。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture Multiple-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

7.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： Environmental Communication is an international, peer-reviewed forum for multidisciplinary research and analysis assessing the many intersections among communication, media, society, and environmental issues. These include but are not limited to debates over climate change, natural resources, sustainability, conservation, wildlife, ecosystems, water, environmental health, food and agriculture, energy, and emerging technologies. Submissions should contribute to our understanding of scientific controversies, political developments, policy solutions, institutional change, cultural trends, media portrayals, public opinion and participation, and/or professional decisions. Articles often seek to bridge gaps between theory and practice, and are written in a style that is broadly accessible and engaging.