ADS Capstone Chronicles Revised

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conflicting messages being disseminated throughout the public sphere, with partisan agendas overshadowing scientific facts and evidence. For example, while visiting California amidst a series of devastating wildfires in September 2020, former President Donald Trump expressed doubts that climate change was to blame, stating “It’ll start getting cooler. You just – you just watch” (Jacobo, 2020, para. 2). During his presidency, Donald Trump also left the Paris Agreement and repealed many Obama-era regulations regarding coal production, fracking, and emission rules (Welch & Gibbens, 2020). Across the United States, climate change has become highly polarized, with political divisions over its validity, impact on human lives, and appropriate policy responses. Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus on the reality and severity of climate change, a significant portion of the population remains skeptical and even dismissive of the issue. Recent studies indicate that approximately one in seven Americans do not believe that a climate crisis exists (Dewan, 2024). This skepticism can be attributed, at least in part, to the diverse and often contradictory messaging surrounding climate change in the media. The framing of climate change narratives and the selection of topics for coverage contribute to shaping public perceptions and attitudes. Uncovering how climate change is portrayed and perceived in the media is essential for several reasons. Media representations play a significant role in shaping public opinion and guiding policy discussions By analyzing media coverage of climate change, researchers can gain 2.1 ProblemIdentificationand Motivation

insights into the dominant narratives and biases that may be at play. Understanding public attitudes and sentiments toward climate change is essential for the development of outreach efforts to raise awareness and foster collective action. 2.2 Definitionofobjectives There are two primary objectives for this study. First, we aim to identify the framing of climate change and associated subtopics using topic modeling. By categorizing and labeling different topics, we can gain a nuanced understanding of the specific subtopics emphasized in the media. Second, we intend to conduct sentiment analysis to discern the overall sentiment. Through these analytical approaches, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of how climate change is communicated and perceived in the media, with implications for public discourse and climate advocacy efforts. 3 LiteratureReview(RelatedWorks) 3.1 CommunicatingClimateChangeand Health in the Media Depoux et al. (2017) analyzed the evolution of discourse on climate change disseminated to the public in two different forms of media: the French newspaper, LeMonde, and Twitter tweets. Depoux et al. found framing climate change as a public health concern, rather than an environmental issue, has become more pertinent in climate change reporting. Furthermore, highlighting the health risks associated with climate change in conjunction with potential solutions was more effective in eliciting a response and increasing involvement in climate change (Depoux et al., 2017). Effective communication plays a crucial role in prompting a response to climate change.

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