The role of the media in construction and presentation of food risks

Abstract

In this article we examine how and why the media construct food risks, from the perspective of ‘media actors’ (people involved in different types of media) using data from 30 interviews conducted in 2013 with media actors from Australia and the United Kingdom. In modern society, many risks are invisible and are brought to the attention of the public through representations in the mass media. This is particularly relevant for food safety, where the widening gap between producers and consumers in the developed world has increased the need for consumer trust in the food supply. We show the importance of newsworthiness in construction of media stories about food risk using Beck’s ideas on cosmopolitan risk to interpret the data. We note the ways in which the strategies that media actors use to construct stories about food risk amplify the risk posed potentially creating consumer anxiety about the safety of the food system. It is important for food regulators and public health professionals to be aware of this anxiety when presenting information about a food incident so that they can target their message accordingly to decrease anxiety.

Keywords:

• risk
• media
• food
• food incident
• newsworthiness
• journalist

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Sian Calnan who assisted with data collection in the United Kingdom and Dr. Trevor Webb, Professor Martin Caraher and Professor Anthony Elliott who are Chief Investigators on the project.

Notes

1. FSANZ is a bi-national government agency who develops and administers the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. This lists requirements for foods such as additives, food safety, labelling and GM foods. Enforcement and interpretation of the Code is the responsibility of state and territory departments and food agencies within Australia and New Zealand.