Eco Talk: A Podcast on how the Irish Media Frame Veganism and its Environmental Impact

Abstract

Despite the critical role of agriculture in global emissions, the media coverage often omits dietary choices like veganism from discussions on climate change mitigations. The topic of this podcast is an informative analysis of the framing of veganism and the climate crisis in Irish media. It aims to engage with a broader audience and provide real-world perspectives through an interview with an expert, and the general public. The podcast aims to disseminate the findings in a more accessible and engaging format. This dissertation aims to complement the podcast Eco Talk, and discusses how the media artefact was conceived and produced.

The primary research questions of Eco Talk are:

How do The Irish Times, and The Journal frame veganism and its environmental impact?

What themes and narratives are prevalent in their coverage?

What are the solutions to transitioning towards more sustainable farming practices and shifting towards vegetable and grain farming?

My findings indicate that the framing of veganism and the climate crisis is predominantly negative, discouraging constructive dialogue on the topic.

The implications of this research are significant for both public understanding and future research. By understanding how media framing shapes public perceptions of veganism, this study can inform future policies to keep the media a medium to relay information. Future research could examine the impact of how media frames influence consumer behaviour and the effects of different framing strategies on public perceptions.