Framing development: Identifying dominant themes about the ‘Adani project’ in local regional media

ABSTRACT

This article reviews the way in which regional development is framed in a hyperlocal regional newspaper. It presents findings from detailed analysis of selected news articles published in a locally-based newspaper about the progress of a proposal by the Adani group to establish a mine in the Galilee Basin, Central Queensland, Australia (‘the Adani project’). The area has a traditional association with mining, and had experienced an economic downturn due to a reduction in mining activity in the region. We expected that the newspaper would frame the Adani project positively, reflecting local support for the project to promote economic recovery. This was not the case. Environmental concerns about the project were dominant in coverage and themes of political responsibility and attribution of blame emerged. The findings add to limited existing knowledge about regional media in Australia operate, and challenge general assumptions that equate being local with being ‘parochial’.

KEYWORDS:

• Framing analysis
• regional media
• political communication
• environment
• regional development

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Somerville

Rebecca Somerville is a communication and writing professional who has worked in private and non-for-profit sectors in Australia. She has a keen interest in research, organisational communication, writing and editing and conducted this study as a communication research project through CQ University.

Kate Ames

Kate Ames is a professor in learning design and communication at CQUniversity, Australia. As a cultural sociologist, her scholarship is in the area of culture, language, and interaction. Her particular interest is in interaction, storytelling, and community membership that occurs in and for the public.