Covering geopolitical problems in the context of the Arctic exploration in the American media discourse (based on The New York Times content analysis)

Abstract

The article is based on a review of the geopolitical problems of the Arctic region, represented in the contemporary American media discourse on the example of the newspaper «The New York Times». The paper was chosen because it is an example of traditional American journalism, which adheres to the principles of objectivity. As a result of the analysis, the following trend was found — throughout 2001-2005 years the newspaper actively presented two Arctic issues: the feasibility of oil drilling in Alaska and the problem of climate change in the Arctic. Since 2007, the arctic problematics on the pages of newspapers became relevant in the context of geopolitical issues, which was connected to the event of August 2, 2007, namely the setting of the Russian flag in the Arctic Ocean. Coverage of the Arctic issues was carried out in the context of competition, and later — international cooperation. In the period from 2011 to 2018, the focus of the American newspaper was pointed out to the climate change and resource development in the Arctic.

Keywords

• Arctic
• media discourse
• Arctic media discourse
• geopolitical problems
• American mass media
• informational policy