More room for climate change news reporting in China? A study of climate change coverage in Southern Metropolis Daily

Research on climate change news coverage in China mainly focuses on Chinese state-run media. However, market-oriented media are also an important information source in Chinese society. This paper examines climate change news reports in the Southern Metropolis Daily, a popular Chinese market-oriented newspaper, exploring the geographic focus, news sources and frames from an eighteen-month sample. Findings suggest an absence of climate science, a failure to focus upon local impacts and solutions and a lack of diverse voices. Instead, market-oriented media tend to follow the lead of state media in their reporting about climate change. Recommendations suggest the need for more diverse and locally relevant climate journalism for Chinese audiences.