Murdochisation of the 2023 IPCC report: framing science into opinion in the US

Abstract

Este trabajo relaciona la cuestión de la intrusión mediática con el imperio informativo de Rupert Murdoch mediante el análisis de los artículos de Fox News, New York Post y Wall Street Journal que informan sobre el último informe del IPCC de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático de marzo de 2023.

This research investigates the portrayal of climate science within opinion pieces published by Fox News and the New York Post, both media outlets owned by Rupert Murdoch. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study examines how these articles frame the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) released in March 2023. The findings of this research will contribute to a broader discussion about the quality of journalism in the digital age and how discourse can frame science in opinion. Several research questions guide the analysis. To what extent does the portrayal of climate science in these articles undermine democratic debate? Do Fox News and the NYP provide fair coverage of the IPCC report, or do they undermine its credibility? What specific framing techniques are used in the discourse surrounding the report? By analyzing the framing techniques employed in opinion pieces, the study sheds light on how media outlets can potentially distort scientific discourse and influence public opinion of global warming and climate action. The analysis draws on McQuail's five fundamental values of journalism, and Public Citizen's (2019) analysis of common fallacies used by Fox News. Ultimately, this research aims to inform a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between media, science communication, and public opinion of pressing global challenges.