Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 4-30-2021
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Journalism
First Advisor
Charles Mitchell
Second Advisor
Michael Fagans
Third Advisor
Kristen Swain
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis explores the effectiveness of long-form narrative storytelling in relation to environmental journalism. It particularly focuses on effectively communicating the seriousness of climate change on a local level through narrative storytelling. The bulk of the information was gathered through multiple interviews with people experiencing the effects of climate change on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. By using interviews with local people interspersed with scientific data, I hope to be able to show the average reader that climate change is real and it can dangerously affect people on a local level, even in rural states like Mississippi.
Through my research, I have found that climate change is largely overlooked by the general public because there are no set standards for environmental journalism. Because of this, important information regarding climate change is often misconstrued or communicated in a way that is not effective for general comprehension. I also found that scientific information is proven to be better understood when presented in a narrative format. Therefore, environmental journalism and the topic of climate change in general should adopt a narrative format in order to be most effective.
Recommended Citation
Edmonson, Abbey, "Narrative Storytelling in Conjunction with Environmental Journalism" (2021). Honors Theses. 1744.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1744
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