How much energy in energy policy? The media on energy problems in developing countries (with the example of Poland)

• Published in: Energy policy 2012-11, Vol.50, p.383-390
• Main Authors: Świątkiewicz-Mośny, Maria, Wagner, Aleksandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy; Applied sciences; Communication; Crisis; Developing countries; Economic data; Energy; Energy crisis; Energy economics; Energy industry; Energy policy; Energy sector; Energy shortages; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; General, economic and professional studies; Households; LDCs; Mass media; Media; Media coverage; Poland; Politicians; Press; Questioning; Studies; Technology
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.07.034

This paper reviews the media discussion of the energy crisis with a focus on presentation of energy policy in Poland. The results of the research presented in the paper illustrate how the media in developing countries legitimate energy policy and the activities of politicians and other decision makers in the energy sector. The topic of environmental impact or renewable resources is hardly presented in the analysed media coverage, and information about national energy pricing is spread widely. At the same time, the nationwide mass media do not refer to the domestic sector presenting energy problems at an abstract macro social level. Instead of shaping social knowledge, and conscious of such issues as energy supply and efficiency potential in households, the media construct self-referential communication in each of the fields (politics, technology, the economy). Based on Habermas’s distinction between the system and lifeworld, and the assumption that the media both construct and reproduce knowledge about the world, we have attempted to reconstruct the media discourse in the chosen area. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of Polish press allowed us to reconstruct the narrative on the subject of the energy crisis. The results could be the basis for critical revision of communication strategies in the energy sector, especially questioning the problem of its efficiency and mutual understanding between different actors. ► We present the results of media discourse analyses on energy crisis in Poland. ► We find supremacy of political and economical perspectives.► Nationwide mass media present energy problem on abstractive macro- social level. ► There are no reference to domestic sector and renewable energy topic is hardly presented. ► Self- referential discourse generates risk of mutual misunderstanding between different actors of social life.