Framing Climate Change: A Content Analysis of Chinese Mainstream Newspapers from 2005 to 2015

Abstract

This study investigates the Chinese media coverage on climate change over the period 2005 to 2015. By analyzing 48 news articles from five mainstream Chinese newspapers, we identify six frames in climate change reporting: conflict, collaboration, human interest, attribution of responsibility, environmental and human impact, and leadership. The environmental and human impact frame is used the most, followed by the frames of attribution of responsibility, collaboration, and conflict. Results also reveal that the use of certain frames is associated with the use of certain information sources. This study suggests the overlooked fact that Chinese party-sponsored newspapers have been framing climate change from the perspective of global collective efforts.