Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington
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Museums and communicating climate change-related issues on Facebook platforms

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posted on 2023-03-31, 05:35 authored by D Bikovska, Chern LiewChern Liew
Purpose: This research examines the ways in which museums have utilised their Facebook platforms to communicate about climate and environmental-related challenges. The aim is to offer a snapshot of the phenomenon of museums as contributors to communicating climate-related topics and climate change education. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis of a purposeful sample of 10 museums’ Facebook postings was conducted. The study examines the themes and topics concerning climate issues that museums have posted and communicated about, the nature of the communication and an examination of responses from the audience. Findings: This research reveals that not all museums in the study sample have communicated the different research-informed causes or contributors to climate challenges confronting societies today. There is also very little evidence of dialogic engagement with audience and the public-at-large. Most communication is still one-way focussing on the relaying of information. Originality/value: This research highlights the roles of cultural heritage institutions such as museums in communicating climate change-related topics and the need to move towards a more dialogic mode of engagement with their audience. Museums have a role in serving as a trusted and inspirational space for public debates and community empowerment for dealing with climate challenges.

History

Preferred citation

Bikovska, D. & Liew, C. L. (2022). Museums and communicating climate change-related issues on Facebook platforms. Online Information Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-05-2022-0255

Journal title

Online Information Review

Publication date

2022-01-01

Publisher

Emerald

Publication status

Published

Online publication date

2022-11-17

ISSN

1468-4527

eISSN

1468-4535

Language

en