A Disaster After the Disaster: A Comparative Framing Analysis of the Samarco Dam Collapse

Abstract

This research analyzes the alignment of story framing between Samarco and news media following the dam disaster in Minas Gerais in November 2015. Drawing on framing theory as the underlying impetus, the study seeks to answer five major questions: RQ1: How did Samarco frame the mining tragedy in the aftermath of the dam collapse? RQ2: How did the news media frame the mining tragedy in the aftermath of the dam collapse? RQ3: Did the frames presented by Samarco and news media coincide? RQ4: Did the frames presented by Samarco and news media contradict? RQ5: What can be observed about the information flow and interaction between news media and the general public on social media? From a methods perspective, the study uses comparative textual analysis and NodeXL social network visualization to analyze the discourse around Samarco and information flow on social media in the aftermath of the tragedy. The results show that, while some social media content served as a forum for expressions of empathy toward survivors, social media content on Twitter mostly delivered a one-sided and positive view of the firm’s actions.

Citation

Trammel, J.M. (2024), "A Disaster After the Disaster: A Comparative Framing Analysis of the Samarco Dam Collapse", Robinson, L., Moles, K., Moreira, S.V. and Schulz, J. (Ed.) Geo Spaces of Communication Research (Studies in Media and Communications, Vol. 26), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 45-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2050-206020240000026007