The references to youth in informative discourses on Climate Change on Spanish television

Abstract

Climate change is an issue that becomes relevant in the media every year, especially onthe occasion of the celebration of the climate summits. Despite being a topicof global importance that affects all societies, is not over yet installed on the mediaagenda with the strength that can be expected, given its characteristics and implicationsfor the future of humanity. Since the establishment of the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 but come into force in2005, around which its implementation and discussion has caused much controversy inscientific fields and media, because not all countries have expressed their intention toendorse its implementation and some, primarily responsible for emissions ofgreenhouse gases that promote global warming, have simply refused to commit areduction of these contaminating gasesDuring this time, the opinion of many actors directly involved in the issue, especiallyscientists, politicians and experts have been consulted, whose views anddifferences have generated great controversy in media coverage. In turn, televisionitself has given a particular discourse, through the news reported on the subject.In this paper, we explore the presence and the views of young people in the informativediscourses of Spanish television, representatives as they are of a sector of the population that may suffer more closely the consequences of Climate Change as aglobal phenomenon.