Negotiating the Norms of Science Communication: Blogs by climate scientists and journalists

Abstract

The traditional norms of scientists and journalists in science communication are being challenged in post-normal situations when values are involved, uncertainties are high, and there is a need for political action. Animated meta-discourses, defined as reflections and discussions of norms and their practices, indicate a renegotiation of the norms governing science communication. This study explores if and how these norms are being renegotiated among journalists and scientists – focusing on climate research as a prime example of post-normal science. We focus on high-profile blogs by eminent scientists and science journalists to analyze which norms are problematized or defended using a qualitative content analysis of six climate change blogs from Germany, the UK, and the USA (n=3808 blog posts from 196 authors with n=439 posts on meta-discourses). The results show that the traditional norm of impartiality is
being challenged in both science and journalism, especially as far as the journalistic understanding of “balance” and the scientific ideal of value-free science are concerned. At the same time, other norms become more important both among scientists and journalists: transparency and contextualization of information. Discourses about advocacy reveal that the norm is highly contested and that certain types of advocacy are legitimized in certain situations.

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Lörcher, I., Walter, S., & Brüggemann, M. (2024). Negotiating the norms of science communication: Blogs by climate scientists and journalists. In A. Carvalho & T. R. Peterson (Eds.), Environmental Communication. De Gruyter.

Klimawandel in den Medien: Zwischen konstruktiver Debatte und Polarisierung

Abstract:

Der Klimawandel ist eine besondere Herausforderung für den Journalismus. Welche Hindernisse gibt es in der Klimakommunikation? Und wie können diese überwunden werden?

Brüggemann, M., Pröschel, L. (2024): Klimawandel in den Medien: Zwischen konstruktiver Debatte und Polarisierung. Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. Available at https://www.bpb.de/themen/klimawandel/dossier-klimawandel/546135/klimawandel-in-den-medien/

Balance as Bias von Max und Jules Boykoff

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Brüggemann, Michael (2022): Balance as Bias von Max und Jules Boykoff. In: Youssef Ibrahim und Simone Rödder (Eds.): Schlüsselwerke der sozialwissenschaftlichen Klimaforschung. Bielefeld: transcript (Soziologie der Nachhaltigkeit, Band 2), pp. 45–49.

Transformative Journalisms: How the ecological crisis is transforming journalism

Abstract:

Growing awareness of global ecological crises has provoked a set of new practices in journalism that we suggest labelling transformative journalisms. The term encompasses a diversity of new role conceptions and practices that converge around an explicit and transparent commitment to contribute to the social-ecological transformation of societies by doing journalism. It is thus a form of advocacy journalism that is special in being dedicated to the most common of common goods, preserving the eco-systems and natural resources of the planet. Transformative journalism challenges some aspects of objectivity, such as the idea of the neutral, distanced observer. Instead, it emphasizes the elements of relevant and factually correct coverage as well as values such as transparency about values and moderating the debates that enable society to develop more sustainable ways of life. While the tension between the poles of being a critical, independent observer and sharing a mission of ecological transformation is the source of criticism by proponents of more traditional role conceptions, we also see this tension as a productive source for creativity, complementing traditional journalism with new forms of content, production, and interactions audiences as well as increased awareness of the ecological footprint of doing journalism.

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Brüggemann, M. / Frech, J. / Schäfer, T. (2022): Transformative journalisms: How the ecological crisis is transforming journalism. in: Hansen, A. (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Environment and Communication. 2nd Edition. Routledge, New York.

Der Klimawandel im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen

Key points:

>Seit 2018 hat die Klima-Berichterstattung im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen insgesamt zugenommen.
>In den Jahren 2009 bis 2018 wurde in der Summe der Tage 8,2 Jahre lang in der „Tagesschau“ nicht über das Klima berichtet.
>Das Thema Klima nahm 2021 und 2022 je nach Sendezeit zwischen 1% und 2,4% des Gesamtprogramms von Das Erste, ZDF und WDR ein.
>Insgesamt bleibt das Klima gegenüber Themen wie der Corona-Pandemie, aber auch z. B. der Wirtschaft zurück.

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Tschötschel, V. R. / Schumann, N. / Roloff, R. / Brüggemann, M. (2022): Der Klimawandel im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen. Media Perspektiven 12, 574-581.

Rückschlag für den Klimaschutz: Wandel der Einstellungen und Kommunikation zu Klimawandel und Klimapolitik von 2015 bis 2023

Key points

> Eine breite Mehrheit unterstützt Klimaschutz, aber erstmals seit mehreren Jahren sinkt die Unterstützung für klimapolitische Maßnahmen deutlich, während die Anzahl der Menschen steigt, die die Existenz des anthropogenen Klimawandels bezweifeln.
> Das Vertrauen in die Klimawissenschaft ist nach wie vor hoch, ging 2023 aber seit 2015 erstmals deutlich zurück.
> Das öffentlich-rechtliche Fernsehen bleibt die wichtigste Informationsquelle zu den Themen Klimawandel und Klimapolitik, die Nutzungshäufigkeit ist aber rückläufig. Die Nutzung von Informationen im öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehen sowie im Radio hängt positiv mit klimafreundlichen Einstellungen zusammen.
> Persönliche Gespräche zum Thema Klima werden seit 2019 deutlich seltener.
> Die Nutzung von Informationen des öffentlich-rechtlichen Fernsehens sowie des Radios hängt positiv mit klimafreundlichen Einstellungen zusammen; je mehr BILD gelesen wird und je mehr soziale Medien thematisch genutzt werden, desto eher bezweifeln Befragte die Existenz des anthropogenen Klimawandel.

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Reif, Anne; Guenther, Lars; Tschötschel, Robin; Brüggemann, Michael. (2024). Rückschlag für den Klimaschutz: Wandel der Einstellungen und Kommunikation zu Klimawandel und Klimapolitik von 2015 bis 2023. Media Perspektiven 14/2024.

Still Watching From the Sidelines? The Case for Transformative Environmental Communication Scholarship

Abstract

Ecological crises such as climate change challenge ecosystems and societies. They also concern us as scholars of media and communication. We should not stand by and watch ecological disaster from the sidelines. This article calls for more transformative communication and media scholarship. This implies research, teaching, and public engagement about how to transform societies toward just socioecological transformations through preserving ecosystems and catering for the needs of current and future generations across the globe. We show how much is already being done, as well as how much more we could do as a discipline to not only become carbon neutral but leave a positive imprint on the way societies respond to ecological challenges.

Brüggemann, M. / Carvalho, A. / Brevini, B. / Downey, J. (2023): Still Watching From the Sidelines? The Case for Transformative Environmental Communication Scholarship. International Journal of Communication; Vol 17. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/20507

When debates break apart: discursive polarization as a multi-dimensional divergence emerging in and through communication

Abstract

“Polarization” is a common diagnosis of the state of contemporary societies. Yet, few studies theorize or systematically analyze how polarization evolves in media content. To guide future empirical studies, we introduce a public sphere perspective on polarization. Discursive Polarization, defined as divergence emerging in public communication, may disrupt the public sphere if left untamed. Its analysis should combine the study of ideological polarization (increasing disagreement about issues) and affective polarization (growing disaffection between groups) as evolving in communication. Both processes may be measured in media content. We propose a framework combining the study of journalism and digital communication networks, investigating (1) content and (2) networked interactions regarding both political issues and social identity formation. The exploration of how the public sphere is disrupted in the process of Discursive Polarization may help us to understand the wider social phenomenon of polarization: before societies break apart, debates break apart.

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Brüggemann, M. / Meyer, H. (2023): When debates break apart: discursive polarization as a multi-dimensional divergence emerging in and through communication, Communication Theory, 33(2-3), 132–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtad012.

Not here, not now, not me: How distant are climate futures represented in journalistic reporting across four countries?

Abstract

Among the reasons why climate change is not a major cause for concern for some members of the public is its psychological distance. Since journalistic media are important sources of information about climate change, this article analyzed how distant climate futures are portrayed in journalistic media across four countries (Germany, India, South Africa, and the United States; n=1,010). Findings show that there are only few differences across countries; representations of distance rather varied with the type of climate future scenario portrayed. The most frequent scenarios in journalistic reporting were distant — especially regarding the temporal, spatial, and social dimensions.

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Guenther, L., & Brüggemann, M. (2023): Not here, not now, not me: How distant are climate futures represented in journalistic reporting across four countries? Journal of Science Communication, 22(05). https://doi.org/10.22323/2.22050201.