The end is nigh : A study on alarmistic media reporting of climate change

Sammanfattning: Climate change is an issue surrounded by risk and uncertainty. The public oftentimes receive most of its general knowledge regarding science on the issue from the mass media. This can mean that the public receive mixed messages, those of apocalyptic narrative, those of narratives claiming no such thing exists, for example, which can lead to misconceptions of what the actual status is, and in extension lead to fear and anxiety. The aim of this study was to explore how individuals experience alarmistic media frames, through conducting a survey asking the respondents to react to visual examples in an alarmistic demeanor. Findings showed that while respondents felt worry, hopelessness and compassion in relation to the examples presented, they also responded with indifference on some levels. Contexts of the respondents also showed existing knowledge about what can be done to help the environmental issues, as well as altruistic values about other living organisms both in the present and the future. Conclusively, alarmistic media frames effect individuals directly on an emotional level, whether it can be feelings of worry, hopelessness, compassion or indifference. However it is not as simple in evaluating a totality of effect on individuals. This study implies a deeper process of experience, as respondents implied possessed knowledge and values as a base for what the initial experience lead to.