A Content Analysis of Journalistic Framing of Chemical Contamination of the Cape Fear River

Guided by Entman’s Framing theory, this content analytic study explores the journalistic framing of Cape Fear River contamination in North Carolina, USA. Chemours, a spin-off company DuPont was responsible for release hazardous chemical known as GenX into river, which caused contamination. The involved an inductive analysis 359 news reports about issue. results indicated that 78.83% articles framed problems, 72.7% causes, 60.17% effects, and 55.71% potential solutions. Five principal problem frames (i.e., river contamination, Chemours’s involvement, scientific uncertainty GenX, governmental inaction, inability water treatment plants to filter GenX), four cause malfeasance, wastewater spillage from facility, politics, lack regulatory standards six effect revocation permit, legal action against health effects stakeholders’ demands answers, scammers targeting stakeholders, declaration swampland), five solution stopping discharge, securing grants deal with issue, using alternative techniques advancing bills prevent further corporate alternate sources drinking water) were identified. By looking at all together, current adds literature, can be used future determine how analyzed media contributed formation public opinion regarding