title: Is the way an oil spill response is reported in the media important for the final perception of the clean-up?
abstract: This research investigates the media coverage during the C/V Rena grounding in New Zealand (NZ), in 2011, to analyze if information reported in printed media is important for the final perception of the overall oil spill response. We took all articles available from NZ's largest circulated newspaper and the regional newspaper closest to the incident and analyzed the themes within each article; the article's tone (positive, neutral or negative); the time of the report relative to incident events and any differences between the regional and national papers. This analysis indicates that oil spills are reported and perceived as inherently negative incidents. However, along with coordinating an effective spill response, fast, factual and frequent media releases and increased effect in media liaison in areas of response with high public intrinsic value such as oiled wildlife response can significantly influence tone of media coverage and likely overall public perception.
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Electronic address: b.l.chilvers@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Chilvers
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashwell
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D009520:New Zealand; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D010465:Perception; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: CV Rena; Media analysis; New Zealand; Oil spill response; Public perception