Media Use and Public Perceptions of Global Warming in India |
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Authors: | Jagadish Thaker Xiaoquan Zhao Anthony Leiserowitz |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Communication, Journalism &2. Marketing (Manawatu), Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand;3. Department of Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA;4. School of Forestry &5. Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA |
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Abstract: | Media plays a vital role in informing the public about environmental threats. Although climate change is a global problem, developing countries such as India are often more vulnerable to the impacts due to poverty, illiteracy, and low public awareness. Using data from a nationally representative survey in India, this paper explores the relationships between media use, issue attention, and trust in informational sources on one hand and science-based climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy support on the other. Results suggest that the Indian media, through consistent and accurate coverage of global warming using trusted sources, can play a positive role in increasing public engagement among a largely unaware population. Implications for climate change communication in India are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Media effects news attention trust perceived experience global warming knowledge risk perceptions policy support India |
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