Rapid issue tracking: A method for taking the pulse of the public discussion of environmental policy

David N. Bengston; David P. Fan; Patrick Reed; Ashley Goldhor-Wilcock

doi:10.1080/17524030903230165

Rapid issue tracking: A method for taking the pulse of the public discussion of environmental policy

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David N. Bengston, David P. Fan, Patrick Reed, Ashley Goldhor-Wilcock

Year:

2009

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/17524030903230165

Source:

Environmental Communication. 3(3): 367-385.

Download PDF (107.8 KB)

Cite

Abstract

Environmental communication professionals and other decision makers need to understand public sentiment toward environmental issues to effectively carry out their stewardship responsibilities. However, it is often difficult to obtain timely and reliable information about public discussion and debate regarding these issues. This paper describes an approach designed to address this dilemma: Rapid Issue Tracking is a method for quickly "taking the pulse" of public and other stakeholder discussion. The data source for Rapid Issue Tracking is online media stories, including traditional news media, social media, and other textual data such as public comments received by an agency. Two US Forest Service cases of Rapid Issue Tracking are presented to explicate the method and its usefulness in environmental communication and decision making.

Keywords

Monitoring the Social Environment, Environmental Policy, Content Analysis, News Media, Social Media

Citation

Bengston, David N.; Fan, David P.; Reed, Patrick; Goldhor-Wilcock, Ashley. 2009. Rapid issue tracking: A method for taking the pulse of the public discussion of environmental policy. Environmental Communication. 3(3): 367-385.