Genetically engineered foods in the public sphere: Interactions between the mass media and the socio-political environment

Recent studies in science communication highlight how genetically engineered (GE) foods are portrayed in the mainstream media. This dissertation goes further to focus on why and when certain frames and voices and not others are heard in the public debate on GE foods. By examining the relationship between activism, scientific discoveries, and policy activities, I developed an interactive model to assess how media field characteristics and the socio-political environment influence opportunities various stakeholders, specifically environmental organizations (eNGOs), have to advance their claims in the issue domain.; Data were collected from content analysis of 406 news articles from The New York Times and The Washington Post and Britain's The Guardian and The Independent during 1998-2003. The comparative framework highlights the influence of professional norms and organization of the media field on participation in the international public debate. The comparative perspective also provides an effective standard against which to measure the discourse in each country in relative terms of participation.; My results show that the ability of eNGOs to achieve media coverage varies by the nature of critical discourse moment, the number of competitors, and journalistic practices. In both countries, policy-generated critical discourse moments produced the greatest amount of participation; however, the fierce competition pushed eNGOs towards the margins of the debate, particularly in the United States. Critical discourse moments generated by scientific activities showed mixed results for environmental organizations; in the United States, eNGOs were able to use these opportunities as springboards for discussion, but in Britain these moments were dominated by politicians and scientists. Environmental organizations in Britain had a distinct advantage during activist-generated discourse moments; in the U.S., eNGOs achieved media coverage, but due to the 'balance norm' in the American media field, environmental voices were equally balanced with industry voices.; This research recognizes the roles that socio-political environments and media fields in different countries play in determining whose voices are heard in the public---and international---debate on GE foods. The interactive approach used here confirms that science communication is not a one-way process; it is a complex transaction among stakeholders, the media field, and the socio-political environment.