Alternative Voices in Global Climate Change Reporting

Abstract

Potential understanding on how a complex global issue is framed may be assisted a wealth of diversified media sources reporting on the climate change policy conversation online. This study aimed to ascertain how global climate change is framed by American and Philippine online mainstream and alternative media in terms of climate impacts, ethics and policy solutions during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC). Possible interaction effects in climate change media-making between identified alternative and mainstream media sources within and across national contexts on the transnational issue were examined if any may exist. Content and discourse analysis identified possible association between online media source type and framing climate change impact and risk, ethics and policy elements to address the issue. Alternative policy discourse regarding a post-Kyoto Protocol framework may be said to have emerged in the study, particularly on intergenerational equity to avert climate risks to human security.