Framing and Re-Framing in Environmental Science: Explaining Climate Change to the Public

Justin King Rademaekers Purdue University West Lafayette ; Richard Johnson-Sheehan Purdue University West Lafayette

Abstract

Environmental scientists and science communicators working to educate the public on the science of global climate change often work to present information through an environmentalist perspective. This article uses theories of metaphoric framing to present six guidelines that climate change communicators can use to reframe climate change science in public communication. In particular, the authors argue for environmental scientists to adopt frames that the broader public will find familiar and persuasive. This reframing of environmental science is necessary to counter the framing of skepticism that special interest groups have used to dominate attempts to communicate climate change science to the public.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2014-01-01
DOI
10.2190/tw.44.1.b
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly

References (41) · 1 in this index

  1. ExxonMobil, ExxonMobil's Response to Union of Concerned Scientists Report, 2007. Available at http://abcnews.…
  2. Mémoires de l'Académie des Sciences de l'Institut de France
  3. 10.1080/14786446108643138
     ↗
  4. 10.1080/14786449608620846
     ↗
  5. 10.1111/0004-5608.00245
     ↗
Show all 41 →
  1. 10.3402/tellusa.v12i2.9366
     ↗
  2. Mauna Loa Observatory, A 20th Anniversary Report, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini…
  3. The Science News-Letter
  4. 10.2307/3943590
    The Science News-Letter  ↗
  5. Research in Political Sociology
  6. 10.1177/1075547004270234
     ↗
  7. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x
     ↗
  8. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2004.tb02625.x
     ↗
  9. 10.1086/607921
     ↗
  10. 10.2307/j.ctt6wrbqk.9
     ↗
  11. Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
  12. 10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601171
     ↗
  13. 10.1525/9780520341715
     ↗
  14. Images of Organisation
  15. United Press International, Scientists Caution on Changes in Climate as a Result of Pollution, New York Times…
  16. Grim Effects Seen if Earth Warms Up, The Milwaukee Sentinel, p. 2, January 8, 1979.
  17. 10.1177/0963662506073088
     ↗
  18. 10.1093/poq/nfq073
     ↗
  19. 10.3200/ENVT.51.2.12-23
     ↗
  20. 10.2307/3097132
     ↗
  21. 10.1525/sp.2003.50.3.348
     ↗
  22. 10.1111/j.1533-8525.2011.01198.x
     ↗
  23. 10.7208/chicago/9780226039466.001.0001
     ↗
  24. 10.1111/j.1541-1338.2011.00500.x
     ↗
  25. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2003.10.001
     ↗
  26. The Sand County Almanac
  27. Dillahunt T., Becker G., Mankoff J., and Kraut R., Motivating Environmentally Sustainable Behavior Changes Wi…
  28. National Academy of Sciences, Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences (2nd ed.)…
  29. 10.2166/wst.2007.538
     ↗
  30. An Inconvenient Truth
  31. 10.1016/j.jfs.2011.05.004
     ↗
  32. Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice
  33. 10.1016/0921-8181(95)00052-6
     ↗
  34. Technical Communication Today
  35. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  36. Technical Communication Quarterly