To Eat or Not to Eat: Framing of GMOs in American Media and Its Effects on Attitudes and Behaviors

Abstract

This study examined the framing of genetically modified organisms in two American newspapers, The New York Times and the Washington Post (2000-2016) and tested the impact of risk and opportunity framing on attitudes and behaviors regarding genetically modified organisms. The content analysis ( N = 165) showed that the two newspapers did not have a dominant frame type in their coverage. A randomized three-condition experiment ( N = 182) showed that the type of framing significantly affected individuals’ attitudes and was able to change them. The type of framing affected individuals’ behavioral intentions through postexposure attitudes but was not able to significantly affect actual behavior.