Shark Bite Reporting and The New York Times

Area of Science:

• Marine social science
• Media studies
• Conservation communication

Background:

• Human-shark interactions are increasingly studied within marine social science.
• Media reporting significantly shapes public perception of sharks and influences conservation support.
• The New York Times, as a paper of record, impacts broader media narratives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the extent to which The New York Times' reporting on human-shark interactions moves beyond the term "shark attack."
• To understand how evolving language in reporting influences public perception and conservation.
• To assess the impact of a major media outlet's editorial choices on the discourse surrounding sharks.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of 36 articles from The New York Times published between 2012 and 2021.
• Lexical analysis focusing on terms used to describe human-shark interactions.
• Tracking the frequency of specific terms like "shark attack," "shark bite," "sightings," "encounter," and "incident."

Main Results:

• An increased frequency of the term "shark bite" was observed in reporting.
• "Shark attack" remains a consistently used term alongside other narratives.
• A rise in the use of "sightings," "encounter," and "incident" descriptors was noted since 2020.

Conclusions:

• The New York Times demonstrates a move towards a more nuanced reporting style on human-shark interactions.
• Diversification of language moves away from a singular "shark attack" discourse.
• This evolving lexicon may foster more balanced public perceptions and enhance support for shark conservation.