Framing environmental debates over nuclear energy in Turkey's polarized media system. (27th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ersoy, Metin; İşeri, Emre
• Is Part Of: Turkish studies. Volume 22:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 410
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2021-05-27
• Subjects: Media system -- alternative media -- content analysis -- frames -- nuclear energy -- Turkey; Turkey -- Periodicals; Turkey -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Turkey -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Turkey -- History -- Periodicals; 956.1
• DOI: 10.1080/14683849.2020.1746908
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-3849

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 'The age of sustainable development' has been characterized by an on-going debate over how to define development and which alternative energy resources to rely upon. It is high time to rethink the news media's role in this debate due to transformations in journalism, particularly the role of the media in harnessing the sustainable energy transition. Accordingly, this paper examines the role of the news media in environmental debates over Turkey's nuclear program within the country's polarized media system. Adopting a content analysis method, the paper illuminates how selected media outlets (three mainstream and one online alternative) have framed and disseminated debates over Turkey's nuclear program. The findings reveal that the media system matters in public debates on energy, but also that the alternative media have the potential to contribute to societal debates on issues – even within a polarized media setting – by voicing unspoken ideas.