Mass media communication and environmental disputes: an analysis of local press communication on the designation of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in Italy

The role of mass media in the construction of debated environmental issues is discussed, with reference to biodiversity conservation policies. The articles in a local daily newspaper (Il Tirreno) about the designation of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in Italy have been content analyzed, before and after the park desig- nation. In a quantitative study, two lexical correspondence analyses were conducted, on the titles and bodies of a selection of articles, respectively. A qualitative content analysis of the selected material was also performed to deepen and broaden the quantitative study. Results revealed the salience of a local–regional political conflict in the representation of the park designation, with particular emphasis on the issue of local identity: Local activism appears to function as a territorial defense against external intrusion from a centralized authority. This authority is perceived as limit- ing the interests and freedom of local communities. The implications of the results are discussed.