Local Press Coverage of Environmental Conflict

Abstract

An examination of 600 items in the local press coverage of environmental conflict during a ten-year period showed that a community daily in a small, hut heterogeneous system (1) did indeed favor government/industry sources rather than activists/citizens through all five stages of the conflict; (2) supported local industry in editorials and staff opinion columns in only two stages (Mobilization and Confrontation); and (3) legitimized local industry and marginalized its opponents through all five stages.