Working the fringes: The role of letters to the editor in advancing non-standard media narratives about climate change

• Published in: Public understanding of science (Bristol, England) Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 443 - 459
• Main Author: Young, Nathan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.05.2013; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Canadians; Climate change; Content analysis; Discourse analysis; Global warming; Letters to the editor; Narratives; Norms; Canada; media; communication; public sphere; climate change; discourse
• ISSN: 0963-6625; 1361-6609
• DOI: 10.1177/0963662511414983

This article examines the role of letters to the editor in advancing and sustaining non-standard narratives about climate change in the print media. The letters page is a unique section of the newspaper that is subject to distinct functional and normative pressures. It is also a place where standard media norms are weakest and non-journalistic narratives have an opportunity to leak in. Using research into climate change coverage in eight major Canadian dailies in 2007–2008, the article employs content analysis and critical discourse analysis to examine how letters advance fringe arguments into the print media landscape that would not stand up to regular journalistic scrutiny. While these arguments come from all sides of the issue, it is argued that letters are particularly important for establishing and legitimizing conservative-skeptical perspectives on climate change.