Insights from the 2018 Drought in Ireland’s Broadsheet Media

Figures & data

Figure 1. Frame evolution in Irish broadsheet media during the summer 2018 drought (N = 148).

Table 1. Daily circulation figures for Ireland’s top three national newspapers (ABC Irish Newspaper Circulation, 2018) and drought related articles analysed in this study.

	Irish Independent	Irish Times	Irish Examiner
2018 Daily readership	83,900	58,131	25,419
Market share*	42%	29%	13%
Articles analysed	80	56	12

*Remaining 16% market share is comprised of regional newspapers.

Table 2. Frames, variables, definitions and exemplars from media framing analysis of Ireland’s 2018 summer drought.

Frame	Variable	Definition and exemplars
Current impacts		Current tangible impacts occurring at time of articles
	Water availability	Descriptions of insufficient water supply to the domestic and non-domestic sectors
		“Pressure will be cut across Dublin for seven hours each night, with some households having only a ‘trickle’ at the kitchen sink from 10pm until 5am.” in “Night-time water restrictions to apply to Dublin city centre and 33 suburbs” – Irish Times (July 14, 2018)
	Agricultural disruption	Descriptions of fodder/water shortage, deteriorating animal health, herd culling and crop failure.
		“Large numbers of cattle are being offloaded and farmers are back feeding stock as the scorching heat has burned off grass growth.” in “Farmers are facing a heatwave meltdown” – Irish Independent (June 26, 2018)
	Environmental damage	Descriptions of fish kills, wildfire, pollution and wildlife health implications.
		“The hot and dry weather conditions have led to the outbreak of wildfires in many parts of the State.” In “Air Corps called in to help fight wildfires caused by hot, dry weather conditions” – Irish Times (July 6, 2018)
Future threats		Estimated implications expected to occur in the short to medium term future
	Water availability	Descriptions of insufficient water supply to the public and private sectors
		“A prolonged dry spell could lead to water shortages with reductions in pressure similar to those that have happened in recent days in Skerries in north Co Dublin, the utility warned.” in “Dublin region water supply” “on knife edge” – Irish Times (June 12, 2018)
	Agricultural disruption	Descriptions of threats to animal welfare and crop success
		“There are fears other crops, such as potatoes, broccoli and onions, could also be affected, because the planting season was delayed by a wet spring, which then turned into a sweltering, dry summer.” in “Small carrots on menu as all field crops suffering” – Irish Independent (July 18, 2018)
	Environmental damage	Descriptions of longer-term impacts on soil fertility, water quality, biodiversity and wildfire control.
		“Warm weather and a lack of rain are putting Irish water supplies under pressure with experts warning of potential for shortages later in the year and an increased threat of pollution in lakes and rivers.” in “Irish Water says high level of usage ‘not sustainable’ in the long-term” – Irish Times (June 24, 2018)
Climate change		Positive and negative framing of climate change impacts and required mitigation
	Opportunity	Descriptions of idealist paradise and benefits of climate change
		“You know you’re living in strange times when a few weeks of glorious weather is used by some people to start a row that nobody else wanted.” In “Alarmists should stick to things they can do something about” – Irish Independent (July 17, 2018)
	Negative effects	Impacts of climate change and associated extreme weather events
		“Extreme heatwaves and wildfires wreaking havoc across the globe were ‘the face of climate change’ with impacts on the Earth ‘playing out in real time,’ added US climate scientist Prof Michael Mann.” In “Running out of time; Melting sea ice” – Irish Times (August 25, 2018)
	Climate linkages	Descriptions linking drought and other extreme weather events to climate change, some links to anthropogenic influence
		“While Ireland is not likely to be as badly hit as other parts of the world, we will not be immune from the impact of climate change, and it is likely that we will experience more droughts and hotter summers like the current conditions.” In “More heatwaves and floods are the canaries in the coal mine of climate change” – Irish Times (July 28, 2018)
	Mitigation support	Descriptions of required/ or need for mitigation strategies
		“And in Ireland’s case, it’s where most work needs to be done – to reduce its rising carbon emissions urgently in key sectors and make its contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.” In “Running out of time; Melting sea ice” – Irish Times (August 25, 2018)
Conservation actions		Attempts of mitigative actions
	Restrictions	Descriptions of enforced water restrictions, including hosepipe ban
		“Restrictions are being imposed on water supplies in various communities nationwide and it is these areas that are now most at risk of an extension of the hosepipe ban.” In “Water crisis: now hosepipe ban set to go nationwide” – Irish Independent (July 2, 2018)
	Plea	Descriptions of water conservation pleas from official bodies
		“The utility firm warned that unless demand can be ‘reduced significantly,’ the State’s water network will be at risk of major restrictions or outages ‘until the end of the year’” in “Irish Water says restrictions may continue until end of the year” – Irish Times (July 10, 2018)
	Advice	Descriptions of water conservation advice and strategies for the public
		“The top three measures that people can take are not using a hose to water the garden or wash cars; keeping paddling pools very shallow if they are being used; and taking short showers rather than baths.” in “Dubliners face water restrictions as dry spell threatens to result in droughts” – Irish Times (June 27, 2018)
Responsibility		Responsibility to alleviate impacts of drought
	General public	Descriptions of public’s responsibility to conserve water and calls to abide by restrictions
		“Irish people should take four-minute showers in a bid to help conserve water supplies during drought-like conditions.” In “Play your part by cutting shower time down to just four minutes” – Irish Independent (July 6, 2018)
	Irish Water	Descriptions of need for more efficient water infrastructure and management by Irish Water
		“Irish Water has a responsibility to protect normal users and its creaking system” in “An outrageous waste: water supply” – Irish Times (August 9, 2018)
	Government	Descriptions of government’s responsibility to manage the restrictions ensure public safety/ satisfaction
		“Meanwhile the Government’s emergency tsar has been meeting with officials from across the country and is due to meet senior officials from various Government departments today as the heatwave continues.” In “Just 10 people have told on water wasters” – Irish Independent (July 4, 2018)

Figure 2. Variable mentions within frames in Irish broadsheet media during the summer 2018 drought (N = 148).

ABC Irish Newspaper Circulation. (2018). Irish Newspaper Circulation July-Dec 2018 Island of Ireland Report Print. [online]. Retrieved July 3, 2019 from http://www.ilevel.ie/print/irish-newspaper-circulation-july-dec-2018-island-of-ireland-report/

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