Many news organizations are prioritizing climate change news and have created novel ways of sharing news on social media. One manifestation of this prioritization among news organizations is the creation of climate-specific social media accounts that news outlets use to share climate change news exclusively. Despite this, we know very little about what aspects of climate change are being emphasized in this coverage, especially in terms of how it is being adapted to platforms like Instagram. This dissertation aims to answers two primary questions: First, what type of climate change-related news is shared on Instagram by legacy news outlets, and second, how and why do news outlets transform this content transform from their website to Instagram? This research combines computational and manual content analysis of text and images with in-depth interviews with journalists to explore patterns in the distribution and production of climate news on Instagram. Findings show a gap between the amount of climate news produced for news websites and what is repurposed for Instagram. Even outlets with climate-specific accounts share only a fraction of their coverage, favoring visually striking stories such as extreme weather. Instagram functions as a distinct editorial space governed by engagement metrics, where ecological and visual dimensions of climate change dominate over policy and societal themes. Engagement data reveal that affectively charged stories drive visibility, while policy-oriented coverage draws less attention. Interviews highlight social media editors as institutional change agents mediating between algorithms and newsroom values. Rather than replacing gatekeeping, platform logics are integrated into gatekeeping decisions through what editors describe as “social alignment,” where audience feedback informs editorial judgment. Journalists emphasize maintaining brand reputation and public-service goals, reflecting adaptation rather than surrender to platform imperatives. Overall, this dissertation advances understanding of how climate journalism evolves under platform governance. The study underscores both opportunities and constraints in communicating environmental issues through visual social media and highlights the need for transparency, cross-desk collaboration, and investment in high-quality storytelling to ensure that environmental reporting remains visible and credible in today’s media environment.
Afrooz Mosallaeipour (Thu,) studied this question.