What’s with the Water: The Nature of Reporting on the Problem of Nitrates in Nebraska

Jessica Fargen Walsh, Mildred F. Perreault

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article examines how 22 Nebraska newspapers and a wire service covered nitrate contamination in Nebraska’s groundwater over nearly 4 years. We found coverage lacked depth and examined a few solutions although 88% of Nebraskans get drinking water from the ground. Reliance on fertilizer and irrigation for crop production leads to groundwater contamination, making this a concerning coverage gap as climate change impacts promise to make farming more challenging and increase environmental risks.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalNewspaper Research Journal
Volume44
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Reporting Techniques
  • Agenda Setting
  • Community Journalism
  • Content/coverage
  • Government-press Relations/public Policy

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