Food Democracy and The Construction of Risk in The Canadian and U.K. Media

• Main Author: Chénier, Lynn A.
• Other Authors: Simon, Roger I.
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: media; journalism; food democracy; Genetically Modified Organisms; genetically engineered foods; risk; agribusiness; sociology; critical discourse analysis; 0391; 0517; 0359
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/18071

Using a critical discourse analysis (CDA), this thesis examines how risks and food security, in relation to Genetically Modified (GM) foods, are constructed within the media context. The project analyzes news articles that appeared in two Canadian newspapers, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star, and two British newspapers, The London Times and the Guardian, during three particular time periods between 1997 and 2005. I evaluate whether or not the selected articles contribute to the public’s understanding of science, and how journalism constructs risk and uncertainty. I also evaluate the use of expert knowledge by journalists. Using the theory of Risk Society, as proposed by sociologist Ulrich Beck, the project explores the connections between political, social, and economic issues connected to globalization. This thesis concludes that journalism in both Canada and Britain does not appear to adequately inform their citizens on matters of food security and the risks of GMOs.