A (non) agenda setting study: News coverage of electric vehicles and their popularity in Aotearoa New Zealand

This article explores the news media framing of electric vehicles (EVs) in New Zealand and theorises the role it may have played in the uptake of EVs in the country. The results were unexpected; the positive valence of EVs, battery life, carbon emissions, the environment, range, public or personal c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pacific journalism review : PJR 2024-07, Vol.30 (1 & 2), p.111-125
Main Authors: Kenix, Linda-Jean, Bolanos, Jorge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
climate change
electric car
media framing
New Zealand
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Summary:This article explores the news media framing of electric vehicles (EVs) in New Zealand and theorises the role it may have played in the uptake of EVs in the country. The results were unexpected; the positive valence of EVs, battery life, carbon emissions, the environment, range, public or personal costs, positive public opinion, positive evaluative language, and battery reusage were not emphasised at all in coverage. Despite the lacklustre media coverage of EVs in New Zealand, the sales of EVs went up. This disconnect between previous research detailing the importance of positive media framing and subsequent behaviour has implications for further research examining media effects. 
ISSN:1023-9499
2324-2035
DOI:10.24135/pjr.v30i1.1301