Presence and framing of climate change in the digital press of Uruguay

Abstract

Nearly 80% of Uruguayans perceive a low presence of climate change in the press (PNUD Uruguay, 2021). This article analyses how digital media in Uruguay inform about and frame climate change and identifies opportunities for improving journalistic coverage of the issue and of the National Climate Change Policy. The content analysis reveals, among other findings, lack of emphasis in scientific explanations of and potential technological solutions to the problems of climate change, policy measures that are unattended by the media and quasi non-existent use of audiovisual content to inform. The article concludes with recommendations on how political authorities and the media can communicate about climate change so that citizens may understand the phenomenon and their relationship with it.