Media Dynamics on Environemental Questions

This research focuses on the risk of forest fires, particularly the analysis of the process of mediatisation of forest fires, in order to assess the evolution of public perceptions on this issue, as well as to understand the way the media may have influenced public opinion. Therefore, we propose the following objectives:

a) To provide an in-depth analysis, from a sociological point of view, on the issue of perception and communication of the risk of forest fires;

b) To collect news on the topics of forest and fire risks in the main reference newspapers (Público, Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias, Correio da Manhã) between 2004 and 2005;

c) To proceed with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the news collected.

Estatuto:

Proponent entity

Financed:

Keywords:

Riscos ambientais, cobertura mediática, incêndios florestais, políticas públicas

a) To provide an in-depth analysis, from a sociological point of view, on the issue of perception and communication of the risk of forest fires;

b) To collect news on the topics of forest and fire risks in the main reference newspapers (Público, Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias, Correio da Manhã) between 2004 and 2005;

c) To proceed with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the news collected.

Objectivos:

This research project intends to contribute towards the analysis of the mediatisation process of the risk of forest fires, in order to assess the evolution of public perceptions on this issue, as well as the way the media may have shaped the Portuguese public's perception of this type of risk. Thus, we aim to discuss and present a group of current reflections that sociologically delimit the topic of public perception of the type of risk under analysis. Then, we intend to present the state of the art regarding this topic in the country, focusing mainly on the results of the few studies carried out on the topic of risks. Lastly, data from the collection of news on the risk of forest fires will be analysed.

State of the art:

O aumento do número de incêndios florestais e da área ardida nos últimos anos em Portugal Continental é de molde a requerer uma abordagem sociológica que, no caso deste projecto, se centra na análise do processo de percepção pública deste tipo de risco, com base na importância, neste processo, da influência da variável media. Os estudos disponíveis são muito generalistas o que nos remete para a necessidade de aprofundar o concurso dos media para a percepção pública do risco de incêndio florestal, por parte da população portuguesa e, deste passo, contribuir para as várias tentativas de mitigação do problema.