TY - JOUR

T1 - British and Irish newspapers implicitly support single-use masks over reusable face coverings

AU - Auge, Anais

AU - Tenbrink, Thora

AU - Spear, Morwenna

AU - Abrams, Nathan

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - Introduction: The environmental impact of waste caused by single-use masks or face coverings is an under-considered effect associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of the protective purpose of face masks and their potential environmental impacts through littering or waste management means the wearing of face masks is simultaneously associated with the health crisis and creation of a new environmental challenge, combining two strands of journalism. Methods: Our study demonstrates how the discourse in British and Irish newspapers in the March 2020-December 2021 time frame relates to this problem. By a combination of quantitative and qualitative discourse analysis, we identify concepts commonly associated with the terms “face-covering” and “mask,” particularly concerning whether they refer to a disposable or reusable item. Results: Results suggest that the newspaper discourse generally favored references to single-use surgical masks. Newspapers reported on the environmental impact of face masks only in very limited ways. Discussion: We propose that the increase in waste caused by face masks can be related to prevailing representations of single-use surgical masks and limited attention paid to environmental concerns.

AB - Introduction: The environmental impact of waste caused by single-use masks or face coverings is an under-considered effect associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of the protective purpose of face masks and their potential environmental impacts through littering or waste management means the wearing of face masks is simultaneously associated with the health crisis and creation of a new environmental challenge, combining two strands of journalism. Methods: Our study demonstrates how the discourse in British and Irish newspapers in the March 2020-December 2021 time frame relates to this problem. By a combination of quantitative and qualitative discourse analysis, we identify concepts commonly associated with the terms “face-covering” and “mask,” particularly concerning whether they refer to a disposable or reusable item. Results: Results suggest that the newspaper discourse generally favored references to single-use surgical masks. Newspapers reported on the environmental impact of face masks only in very limited ways. Discussion: We propose that the increase in waste caused by face masks can be related to prevailing representations of single-use surgical masks and limited attention paid to environmental concerns.

KW - newspaper discourse

KW - mask

KW - face covering

KW - Covid 19

KW - environment

KW - litter

U2 - 10.3389/fcomm.2023.1256349

DO - 10.3389/fcomm.2023.1256349

M3 - Article

VL - 8

JO - Frontiers in Communication

JF - Frontiers in Communication

SN - 2297-900X

M1 - 1256349

ER -