title: A comparative analysis of media reporting of perceived risks and benefits of genetically modified crops and foods in Kenyan and international newspapers.
abstract: We empirically examine the reporting on biotechnology in Kenyan and international newspapers between 2010 and early 2014. We identify news articles that reported on biotechnology and analyze their use of words to determine whether there is a balance in the reporting of perceived risks and benefits. We also consider how the sources used in news articles and how the publication of the Séralini study of rats fed genetically modified maize affect the balance of reporting of perceived risks and benefits. We find that in Kenyan news reporting, more articles mention perceived benefits than risks, but when risks are mentioned, new articles contain more references to risks than to benefits. We also find that sources affect the reporting of perceived risks and benefits and that the Séralini study increased the likelihood that perceived risks are reported in Kenyan news reporting, but not in international newspapers.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeRosier
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Iddisah
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sulemana
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA hjames@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Harvey S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valdivia
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Folk
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Randall D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000235:genetics*; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects*; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020452:Journalism; D007630:Kenya; D002365:Manihot / Q000235:genetics*; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011639:Public Opinion
keywords: Africa; benefits; biotechnology; media; reporting; risks