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Perceiving environmental science, risk and industry regulation in the mediatised vicious cycles of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 20:36 authored by Coco Cullen-KnoxCoco Cullen-Knox, Aysha FlemingAysha Fleming, Elizabeth LesterElizabeth Lester, Emily OgierEmily OgierThis paper examines public conflict over the rapid growth of the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry and associated environmental and social impacts. By conducting a media analysis, triangulated with key stakeholder interviews, we find news media discourse was predominantly framed by environmental risk, expansion of the industry and the in/effectiveness of Government regulation. Environmental science and community interests were conflated within these themes, leading to a perceived lack of transparency and loss of trust in both environmental science information and regulation of environmental impacts. Government, salmon companies and science institutions were the most frequently mentioned stakeholder groups within news media, suggesting they had power to facilitate virtuous cycles – that is, shared goals and language. However, these stakeholder groups were portrayed to be outwardly opaque in their communications of, and lacking engagement in, decision-making processes. By revealing how science, societal values and decision-making were negotiated in news media through this conflict, we hope to contribute to understanding of how vicious and virtuous cycles are facilitated by various stakeholders and within media.
Funding
Australian Research Council
History
Publication title
Social EpistemologyVolume
35Issue
5Pagination
441-460ISSN
0269-1728Department/School
School of Creative Arts and MediaPublisher
RoutledgePlace of publication
UKRights statement
© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupRepository Status
- Restricted