Shaping Perceptions: Media Framing and Tone in reporting Kerala's Landslides

This study investigates the impact of media narratives on disaster risk and response in Kerala, India, focusing on landslides from 2018 to 2022. Through a comprehensive content analysis of three national and three regional newspapers, we examined how print media framed and portrayed significant landslides. Our findings reveal a predominant use of negative tones, emphasizing the severity and adverse impacts of these events. The most utilized frame was the responsibility frame, highlighting Governmental and NGO roles in managing disasters. Economic consequences and human-interest frames also received significant attention, reflecting the broader impacts on the economy and personal stories of affected individuals. Notably, the morality frame was absent, indicating a lack of moral and ethical discussions in the media coverage. This study underscores the media's critical role in shaping public perception and influencing disaster management policies. By highlighting the biases and framing choices in media coverage, we provide valuable insights for media practitioners, policymakers and researchers to enhance disaster communication strategies, fostering resilience and improving disaster preparedness and response in vulnerable regions.