Heroes, Hooligans, or Hypocrites: Media Framing and the Legitimacy of Climate Disobedience

Author: Ravital Reingold

Field of Study: Environmental Studies

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 94

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: As the climate crisis intensifies and governments continue to fall short of stated mitigation goals, disruptive forms of civil disobedience have become central to contemporary climate justice movements. This study will focus on how climate disobedience is represented in media coverage, and how legitimacy may differ across social groups. Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized and frontline communities, yet those same communities often face heightened surveillance and criminalization when engaging in protest. The purpose of this study is to examine how media framing shapes perceptions of legitimacy and how these portrayals differ based on protesters’ demographics. Using comparative case studies—including activist campaigns, student-led protests, and Indigenous resistance—this project analyzes mainstream media coverage across varying political alignments, focusing on headlines, whose voices are quoted, and overall moral framing. The findings will highlight how media narratives can reinforce social inequalities and shape public perceptions of what is and isn't considered acceptable activism.