Mapping the climate sceptical blogosphere |
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| Institution: | 1. Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Australia;2. Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;3. Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands;4. Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa;5. Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Denver, United States;6. University of Pittsburgh, United States;7. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States;1. German Aerospace Center, Institute for Software Technology, Rathausallee 12, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany;2. Technical University of Darmstadt, Institute of Linguistics and Literary Studies, Residenzschloss 1, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany;3. German Aerospace Center, Technology Transfer, Max-Reichpietsch-Straße 1, 51147 Cologne, Germany;4. German Aerospace Center, Institute for Software Technology, Münchener Straße 20, 82234 Weßling, Germany;1. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, 195 Prospect Street, School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511 USA;2. Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, MS 6A8, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA;1. School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, USA;2. Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, 105 South State St., Suite 4661, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, USA |
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| Abstract: | While mainstream scientific knowledge production has been extensively examined in the academic literature, comparatively little is known about alternative networks of scientific knowledge production. Online sources such as blogs are an especially under-investigated site of knowledge contestation. Using degree centrality and node betweenness tests from social network analysis, and thematic content analysis of individual posts, this research identifies and critically examines the climate sceptical blogosphere and investigates whether a focus on particular themes contributes to the positioning of the most central blogs. A network of 171 individual blogs is identified, with three blogs in particular found to be the most central: Climate Audit, JoNova and Watts Up With That. These blogs predominantly focus on the scientific element of the climate debate, providing either a direct scientifically-based challenge to mainstream climate science, or a critique of the conduct of the climate science system. This overt scientific framing, as opposed to explicitly highlighting differences in values, politics, or ideological worldview, appears to be an important contributory factor in the positioning of the most central blogs. It is suggested that these central blogs are key protagonists in a process of attempted expert knowledge de-legitimisation and contestation, acting not only as translators between scientific research and lay audiences, but, in their reinterpretation of existing climate science knowledge claims, are acting themselves as alternative public sites of expertise for a climate sceptical audience. |
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| Keywords: | Climate scepticism Knowledge Network Blog Social network analysis |
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