Rising Seas: Representations of Antarctica, Climate Change, And Sea Level Rise in U.S. Newspaper Coverage

A changing Antarctica carries large implications for global climate systems and sea level rise. However, how climate change is altering Antarctica and how these changes are communicated in news media remains unclear. This article explores how Antarctica, climate change, and sea level rise are portrayed in digital print news media by conducting a content analysis of Antarctic climate coverage in seven U.S. newspapers between March 2007 and December 2022. Findings suggest that newspaper reporting of Antarctica’s changing climate is limited, and that framed coverage about Antarctica, climate change, and sea level rise primarily emphasizes scientific and ecological implications.