Still Dangerous after All These Years? Setting the Media Agenda for Dioxin Contamination

• In Event: HIGH-DENSITY: Assessing Risk in Water and Air

Abstract

In the United States, more than 200 communities are designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as dioxin-contaminated areas of concern. Informing the public about potential risks associated with dioxins and delivering information about how to avoid such risks are essential activities. We studied how one community’s experience with dioxin contamination and remediation has been portrayed in newspapers by analyzing published articles in terms of risk, institutional trust, environmental stigma, and civic participation. One hundred and seventy-six articles published over 30 years about dioxins in Midland, Michigan were collected and studied. Results suggest that articles about dioxin contamination and remediation in Midland appeared in both domestic and foreign newspapers. Risks for human health and the environment were widely covered, with much less attention to the trustworthiness of institutions, environmental stigma, and civic participation. Coverage of these four factors was dynamic. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Authors

• Jie Zhuang, Texas Christian University

• Jeffrey Cox, Michigan State University

• James W. Dearing, Michigan State U

• Minwoong Chung, Michigan State U

• Joseph Hamm, Michigan State U

• Adam Zwickle, Michigan State U

• Brad Upham, Michigan State U