The Social Construction and Framing of Tailpipe Emissions in the Media

The reduction of tailpipe emissions is a critical issue in the U.S. Vehicle emissions containing carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides degrade the quality of air and damage lung and heart function. Urban areas in the northeast and California suffer from severe air quality issues caused by tailpipe emissions. Mass communication through the media can help communicate the risks of tailpipe emissions and help set the political agenda. This study examines media coverage of tailpipe emissions in the Associated Press State and Local Wire from 2000 to 2008. Using a framing analysis approach, the researchers focused on the policy actors and issue frames in media coverage relating to tailpipe emissions. Frames define problems, provide causal analysis, moral judgment, and remedy promotion.