Media and the Environment: Malaysian Press Coverage of the 1992 Earth Summit

DREW O. MCDANIEL (Ohio University, mcdanied@ohio.edu)

Abstract


This analysis of news reports during June 1992 when the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was held reveals wide coverage of environmental issues in major newspapers. Many stories were published each day, but the news tended to be dominated by government officials and spokespersons. Although reports on environmental work by ordinary citizens were not uncommon, only a few stories concerned scientific experts or activists. Predictably, stories about the Rio meetings frequently concerned forestry management, but a range of other topics received attention also. One of the newspapers mounted its own environmental campaign to arouse readers' awareness of ecological problems. On the whole, the findings suggest that because government figures appear to overshadow all other parties as protectors of the environment in news reports, efforts to encourage individual action may be nullified.

ABSTRAK

Analisis laporan berita disepanjang bulan Jun 1992 semasa Persidangan Puncak Bumi diadakan di Rio de Janeiro menunjukkan liputan yang luas mengenai isu-isu alam sekitar oleh akhbar-akhbar utama. Banyak berita diterbitkan setiap hari, tetapi berita-berita ini mempunyai kecenderungan untuk memusat kepada pegawai-pegawai dan wakil-wakil kerajaan. Walaupun kerja-kerja berhubung dengan alam sekitar yang dilakukan oleh orang awam masih kedapatan, tetapi berita mengenai pakar sains dan aktivis adalah amat terhad. Seperti yang dijangka, berita mengenai perjumpaan di Rio sering menyentuh tentang pengurusan hutan, tetapi topik-topik lain juga mendapat perhatian. Sebuah daripada akhbar tersebut menganjurkan kempen alam sekitarnya sendiri untuk membangkitkan kesedaran pembaca tentang masalah ekologi. Secara keseluruhannya, penemuan-penemuan ini mencadangkan bahawa oleh kerana pegawai-pegawai kerajaan kelihatan seolah-olah mendahului kesemua kumpulan lain sebagai pelindung alam sekitar dalam laporan-laporan berita, maka usaha untuk menggalakkan tindakan individu mungkin tidak memberi apa-apa kesan.


Full Text:

PDF

References


,000 walk in aid of environs. 1992, June 15. New Straits Times.

Ahmad M. H. 1983. The mass media as an agent of change in Malaysia. Media Asia 10(2):75-78.

AIBD. 1992. Course schedule for 1992. Kuala Lumpur: Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.

Badri M. A. 1991. Mass communication and the challenges on global environmental protection. The Journal of Development Communication 2(1): 1-16.

Chelliah, T. 1991. Environmental awareness in Asia and the Pacific region: Need for establishing communication links. The Journal of Development Communication 2(l):31-38.

Clad, J. 1985. The multitudinous media. Far Eastern Economic Review 127(February 28):21-28.

Dunlap, R.E.1989. Public Opinion and Environmental Policy. In J.P. Lester (ed.), Environmental Politics and Policy Theories and Evidence, experience Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Friedman, S. M. & Friedman, K. A. 1989. Environmental Journalism: Guardian of the Asian commons. Environment 31(5):6-9;31-37.

Grayson, M. J. & Shepard, T. R. Jr. 1973. The Disaster Lobby: Prophets of Doom and Other Absurdities. Chicago: Follett Publishing.

Grenfell, N. 1979. Switch on switch off: Mass media audiences in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.

Hamdan Mohd. A. 1985. Peranan media dalam mengembangkan masyarakat bertanggungjawab dan bersatu. Negara 8(2): 10-19.

Jalal, K. F. 1991. ESCAP's role in promoting environmental communication. The Journal of Development Communication 2(1):54-71.

Kahirul, B. 1989. A study on the watchdog role of the media: Malaysia and Thailand. The Vigilant Press: A collection. Paris: Unesco.

Key remarks and speeches from the Rio 'Earth Summit.' 1992, June 18. Facts on File, p. 442. Kuala Lumpur sentiasa hijau, indah. 1992, June 16. Berita Harian.

Lent, J. 1989. Mass communication in Asia and the Pacific. Media Asia 16(1): 16-24.

Maloney, J. & Slovonsky, L. 1971. The pollution issue: A survey of editorial judgments. In The Politics of Ecosuicide, L. L. Roos, Jr. (ed.), New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

McDaniel, D. O. 1990, June. Privatization and the Content of Television News in Malaysia. Paper presented at the International Communication Association meeting, Dublin, Ireland.

McDaniel, D. O. 1986. Development news in two Asian nations. Journalism Quarterly 63: 167-170.

Ray, D. L. 1990. Trashing the Planet. Washington, DC: Regnery Gateway.

Riding Malaysia's readership boom. 1991, November 8. Asiaweek, p. 42.

Rubin, D. M. & Sachs, D. P. 1972. Mass media and the environment: Water resources, land use, and atomic energy in California. New York: Praeger.

Rusdi, M. 1991. Environment and public awareness. The Journal of Development Communication 2(1):54-71.

Sham Sani. Sham S. 1991. The state of the Malaysian environment and its outlook for the 1990s. Akademika 38: 87-104.

Starheim, F. J. & Steen, D. V. 1991. Acid rain: Public policy and environmental perception. In Energy, the environment, and public policy, D. L. McKee (ed.), New York: Praeger.

Survey Research Malaysia. 1990. A review of the Malaysian television audience. Kuala Lumpur: SRM.

Tokar, B. 1987. The Green Alternative. San Pedro, CA: R. & E. Miles.

Trop, C. & Roos, L. L., Jr. 1971. Public Opinion and the Environment. In The Politics of Ecosuicide, L. L. Roos, Jr. (ed.), New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


ISSN: 0126-5008

eISSN: 0126-8694