Gene Drives in the UK, US, and Australian Press (2015-2019): How a New Focus on Responsibility Is Shaping Science Communication

Gene drive is a controversial biotechnology for pest control. Despite a commitment from gene drive researchers to responsibility and the key role of the media in debates about science and technology, little research has been conducted on media reporting of gene drive. We employ metaphor and discourse analysis to explore how responsibility is reflected in the coverage of this technology in the U.S., U.K., and Australian press. The findings reveal a rhetorical strategy of trust-building by evoking the moral attributes of gene drive researchers. We discuss the implications of these findings for the communication of new technologies.

Automated summary

This article employs metaphor and discourse analysis to explore the representation of responsibility in media coverage of gene drive technology in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. The findings reveal that the media uses the rhetorical strategy of emphasizing the moral attributes of gene drive researchers to build trust.