ABSTRACT
If media attention can “make or break” a social movement, then it is imperative to understand the intersection of social and legacy media in the coverage of modern environmental justice movements. In an interview with Puyallup Tribal Councilmember Anna Bean, we explore the role of media through the lens of two case studies: Anna’s experience as one of the leaders of the Puyallup Water Warriors through the #NOLNG253 movement and Ellen’s experience working with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on the #NODAPL movement. Considered together, the two case studies provide recent examples and complementing context for the complex relationship between environmental justice concerns and the modern media landscape. What are the tensions and challenges, and what are the strengths and promises of using social media when it comes to pressing environmental issues? As existing media scholarship indicates, understanding media’s role in social issues is complex: as these examples reveal, there are layers of meaning and tension still to be explored and addressed.
