The Danger of A Single Story: Climate Change, Media Consumption and The Creative Industries
Monday, 14 October 2019, 10 – 11am 
A discussion led by Brenda McNally as part of the School of Creative Arts Research Forum (SCARF).
This talk introduces a one-year research project exploring ‘Citizens’ Views on Climate Action in Ireland’ funded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Ireland). It shares preliminary insights from a survey of participants’ media consumption conducted during March – May 2019 as part of the project.
Public engagement with climate change is now a well-developed research field with a substantial body of evidence on engaging citizens with abstract and complex climate scientific data. This literature is increasingly interested in visual communication and storytelling as ways of communicating risks and making techno-scientific information more socially meaningful. The presentation draws on these ideas, and ongoing digital media concerns about fragmented audiences, fake news and misinformation, to examine what the trends in citizens’ media uses and information-seeking tell us about communicating climate action in the contemporary media ecosystem. The talk also describes findings on participants’ media preferences and trusted sources on tackling climate change and discusses implications for how creative industries can contribute to building citizen engagement with climate action.
Brenda McNally is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at Trinity College Dublin and leads the study of citizens’ views and media consumption around climate action. Her research examines the production and circulation of ideas about climate and energy transition, focussing on the role of digital media and popular culture. She recently received a Fulbright-GSI Scholarship to study climate imaginaries and how they can be used to build public engagement with climate and energy action in Ireland.
Campus Location: Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute
Accessibility: Yes
Room: Neill Lecture Theatre
Event Category: Lectures and Seminars
Type of Event: One-time event
Audience: Undergrad, Postgrad, Faculty & Staff
Cost: Free
