From Robots to Humans: Newspaper Coverage of Mars in the United States and the United Kingdom 2011–2016

ABSTRACT

The global news media have documented space science and missions since the space race began in the 1950s. Only recently has that coverage turned toward Mars exploration and colonization as more governments and private enterprises join the race to the Red Planet. This study compares the framing of Mars coverage from 2011 through 2016 in three influential newspapers in the United States, where NASA and many private companies lead the charge, with three newspapers in the United Kingdom, an allied yet competitive country with less of a vested interest in reaching Mars. A content analysis found that many frames from past space missions were adapted for the Red Planet, such as exploration, scientific knowledge, business, nationalism, settlement, legacy, and fear, while new frames emerged, including life, human health, social justice, and social engagement. The framing and tone of Mars articles were similar in both countries despite their different positions in the Mars race. From the launch of Sputnik to potential human exploration of Mars, each successive era of space exploration has been framed in a logical progression from concept to completion that resonates with the values of the times.

KEYWORDS:

• Framing
• Mars
• print newspapers
• tone
• United Kingdom
• United States

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank David Cuillier for his helpful insights and Connor Kelley for his advice and support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The Independent stopped circulating print newspapers in March 2016, at which point the collection of articles from that source ended (“Independent to Cease” 2016). Nonetheless, almost as many articles were collected during the study period from The Independent (58) as from The Guardian (67) and more than from The Financial Times (34).