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Media Reporting on Air Pollution: Health Risk and Precautionary Measures in National and Regional Newspapers

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  • Steven Ramondt

    (Department of Communication Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA)

  • A. Susana Ramírez

    (Public Health, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA)

Abstract

Exposure to air pollution is one of the primary global health risk factors, yet individuals lack the knowledge to engage in individual risk mitigation and the skills to mobilize for the change necessary to reduce such risks. News media is an important tool for influencing individual actions and support for public policies to reduce environmental threats; thus, a lack of news coverage of such issues may exacerbate knowledge deficits. This study examines the reporting of health risks and precautionary measures regarding air pollution in national and regional print news. We conducted a content analysis of two national and two local newspapers covering the USA’s most polluted region during a 5-year period. Coders identified information on threat, self-efficacy, protective measures and information sources. Nearly 40% of air pollution news articles mentioned human health risks. Fewer than 10% of news stories about air pollution provided information on the precautionary measures necessary for individuals to take action to mitigate their risk. Local newspapers did not report more threat (Χ 2 = 1.931, p = 0.165) and efficacy (Χ 2 = 1.118, p = 0.209) information. Although air pollution levels are high and continue to rise at alarming rates, our findings suggest that news media reporting is not conducive to raising environmental health literacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Ramondt & A. Susana Ramírez, 2020. "Media Reporting on Air Pollution: Health Risk and Precautionary Measures in National and Regional Newspapers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6516-:d:410161
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Paul Brown & Linda Cameron & Ricardo Cisneros & Rachel Cox & Erin Gaab & Mariaelena Gonzalez & Steven Ramondt & Anna Song, 2016. "Latino and Non-Latino Perceptions of the Air Quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Kathleen M. Gray, 2018. "From Content Knowledge to Community Change: A Review of Representations of Environmental Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, March.
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    1. Stefani Kulebanova & Jana Prodanova & Aleksandra Dedinec & Trifce Sandev & Desheng Wu & Ljupco Kocarev, 2024. "Media Sentiment on Air Pollution: Seasonal Trends in Relation to PM10 Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-20, July.
    2. Johanna Amalia Robinson & Rok Novak & Tjaša Kanduč & Thomas Maggos & Demetra Pardali & Asimina Stamatelopoulou & Dikaia Saraga & Danielle Vienneau & Benjamin Flückiger & Ondřej Mikeš & Céline Degrende, 2021. "User-Centred Design of a Final Results Report for Participants in Multi-Sensor Personal Air Pollution Exposure Monitoring Campaigns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Samuel Agyei-Mensah & Elvis Kyere-Gyeabour & Abraham Mwaura & Pierpaolo Mudu, 2022. "Between Policy and Risk Communication: Coverage of Air Pollution in Ghanaian Newspapers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-18, October.

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