Discovering the world’s most endangered great whale species did not advance an issue-attention cycle in news media: Implications for Rice’s whale conservation and management

TL;DR

The discovery of Rice’s whale, a critically endangered species, did not trigger increased media attention, remaining in the early stage of public issue cycles.

Contribution

This study is the first to analyze the issue-attention cycle for a newly discovered endangered whale species using media content analysis.

Findings

Rice’s whale has not advanced beyond the first stage of an issue-attention cycle in news media.

Media coverage focuses on regional stakeholders and policy debates rather than broader public engagement.

Strategic communication is essential to prepare for future conservation conflicts and media attention.

Abstract

Issue-attention cycles (IACs) follow the predictable rise and fall of media and public attention to topics through five defined stages. Using content analysis and critical discourse analysis, we analyzed 35 newspaper texts (2021–2024) about the Rice’s whale, a newly discovered and Critically Endangered species exclusive to the Gulf of Mexico. We investigated whether this discovery was enough to advance an IAC and found that, while Rice’s whale science, conservation, and policy has the elements of a topic likely to undergo an IAC, it remains in the first stage of the IAC with limited media attention and a focus on regional stakeholders and policy debates. Comparing this case to the North Atlantic right whale IAC (2010–2024), we offer insights for scientists, professionals, and advocates to prepare for potential future media attention and conservation conflict. Our findings highlight the importance of strategic communication and media analysis to conservation.

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