DEN INRAMADE SANNINGEN : Om användningen av falsk balans i rapporteringen om klimatfrågan i svensk nyhetsmedia 1988 - 2002

Sammanfattning: This study critically examines the phenomenon of false balance in Swedish media coverage of climate change from 1988 to 2002. The research design replicates the methodological framework of Boykoff and Boykoff (2004), applying quantitative content analysis to a selection of Swedish newspapers and comparing with their findings on American newspapers. The false balance occurred when media reporting gave equal weight to scientifically supported and scientifically unsupported views on the causes of climate change. The findings reveal a stark contrast between Swedish and American media. While American newspapers frequently employed false balance, Swedish newspapers predominantly depicted it as a scientifically established fact. Only a small fraction of the Swedish articles presented a false balance. The study delves into the journalistic practices and societal contexts influencing these representations. It suggests that Swedish journalists were less exposed to advocacy frames promoting climate skepticism, prevalent in the U.S. Various journalistic models – from aligning with personal beliefs and interpretive journalism to neutral frame-sending – are explored to understand the media's portrayal of climate change. Additionally, previous research considers the impact of broader political and societal consensus in Sweden on climate science at the time, unlike the politicization that took place in the United States, which likely contributed to the identified difference between the USA and Sweden.  This thesis contributes to the understanding of the media's role in shaping public discourse on climate change and underscores the importance of professional journalistic practices in conveying scientific realities. Keywords: False Balance, Climate Change, Media Coverage, Swedish Newspapers