Environmental Awareness: Environmental Accidents as an Example to be Avoided. A Summative International Analysis

Abstract

The wealth of environmental problems, plaguing us globally, requires special attention, largely due to the frequent indifference of citizens in the environmental decision-making process. Young people, as the future generation of decision makers, should receive proper education to prevent further environmental degradation. A summative international analysis of how the media framed when reporting man-made environmental disaster news has been conducted. Our aim is to provide an evaluation of the media's role in the dissemination of information related to national and international environmental regulations, disaster responses, and the legalities surrounding compensation and recovery of the ones affected. A literature review and surveillance of news response and reporting related to environmental accidents’ disasters was conducted, starting from the 1950s. A number of notable trends were identified. News response and coverage were upgraded as years went by. The diversity of news, the number of stories, the consequences’ awareness and the use of social media services in disaster response, all showed a growing tendency as far as promotion of responsible environmental behavior through the media news, around the globe. Investing further on media communication and engagement during and after environmental accidents, as well as in building a strong environmental interest, seems to be the way to have resilient communities.