Content analysis of shark conservation media coverage suggests bias contributing to public misunderstanding

Sharks are some of the most threatened vertebrates on Earth, and the scientific and environmental communities disagree on the best solutions (aim for sustainable fisheries management vs. aim for banning all fisheries and... [ view full abstract ]

Sharks are some of the most threatened vertebrates on Earth, and the scientific and environmental communities disagree on the best solutions (aim for sustainable fisheries management vs. aim for banning all fisheries and trade, respectively). Mainstream media coverage of environmental topics is a primary mechanism by which concerned non-expert citizens learn about these issues. A content and discourse analysis of media coverage of shark conservation issues was performed, focusing on approximately 3,000 mainstream media articles from 2008-2017. Results show a bias in the framing and topic of media coverage in favor of banning all fisheries and trade, along with numerous examples of factual inaccuracy in coverage of related topics. This may be a contributor to large-scale public misunderstanding about shark conservation and management policy, with important implications for policymaking.