Public interpretations in the discourse on bioenergy - A qualitative media analysis

Abstract

Public interpretations in the discourse on bioenergy - A qualitative media analysis Bioenergy production in Germany and elsewhere has developed rapidly in recent years. This astonishing surge was boosted by a wide range of political support and subsidies at both EU and national level as part of a general strategy directed at encouraging the use of renewable energies. However, there has been increasing criticism of the intensive production and energetic use of biomass in the last three years. In this context, major risks are seen with regard to environmental sustainability and global food security. The issue is, however, multilayered and characterised by a great variety of competing interests, opinions and perceptions. From the point-of-view of democratic theory, future policies will have to take into account public opinion on the opportunities and risks associated with bioenergy if they are to acquire democratic legitimacy. The analysis of mass media discourses can generate valuable insights into perceptions and interpretations in the public realm. To illustrate this, we present the results of a qualitative analysis of the media debate on bioenergy in leading German newspapers. The findings reveal a broad spectrum of interpretative views on bioenergy which compete with each other for political influence.