Environmental Images in Indian Newspapers

Abstract

This study examines how the environment is represented in images in India’s two main national newspapers, The Times of India and The Hindu, in the calendar years 2014 and 2015. Photographs and infographics were taken for the analysis as they are frequently observed images in the newspapers. Using content analysis, manifest content of the images was analysed. Later, visual discourse analysis was used to find the inherent meaning present in the images of the environment. In this study, infographics have been subjected to a detailed analysis. The findings show that the images of climate change, biodiversity and water scarcity themes were most frequently found. Adverse impacts were well represented in newspapers such as the graphical information of global CO2 emissions, dipping levels of reservoirs and groundwater, and threats to the ecosystems. The Times of India used more of graphics with textual information as part of infographics and The Hindu used more of statistical data. Though The Times of India and The Hindu employ infographic artists besides graphic designers, infographics were scarce compared to photographs. Data journalism is the way of the future, and the newspapers should strive more to help public understand scientific and ethical aspects of an environmental problem better.