More than a continent of peace and science: A content analysis of Antarctica in Australian news media

Abstract

This paper explores representations of Antarctica and Antarctic science in news media, using Australian news as a case study. Antarctic scholarship in the humanities and social sciences is increasingly interested in public engagement with a continent in geopolitical and geophysical flux. Studies have focused on literature, advertising, music and the arts, while news has been largely overlooked. Focusing on Australia, which claims 42 percent of Antarctic territory, this paper draws on results from a larger study exploring the interplay between news, science and politics on the icy continent. Following a content analysis of online news articles, we find news coverage heavily featured stories of Australians living and working in Antarctica, with less coverage focused on Antarctic science, including climate science. We suggest this news coverage may contribute to promoting awareness of Australia's territorial claim, while potentially limiting broader public engagement with the continent's global significance. Future research incorporating audience surveys could help determine the extent to which media coverage influences public perceptions and reinforces territorial claims.