Journalism Taking Action Against Climate Change: An Ethnographic Understanding of How Journalism on Climate Change is Related to Activism

Abstract

"Climate change is a big, complex, and obtrusive issue. Informa- tion about this issue is conveyed to citizens by journalists, some of which, after much research, are taking an activist position on the seriousness of the problem. This thesis will look at one specific way journalists cover climate change through knowl- edge-based journalism. The involvement with their topic brings two worlds together: activism and journalism. Three debates influence this relationship: (1) legitimization of knowledge, (2) trustworthiness, and (3) action. These points are ethnographi- cally explored over the full length (production, dissemination, and consumption) of climate journalism within the Dutch media organization De Correspondent. It explores how journalism and activism are interwoven when reporting on climate change. The findings explain how personal opinions about the topic of climate change influence the tone of voice of climate journalism, and how the urgency of the topic is confusing activistic motiva- tions with a journalistic responsibility."