Telling Stories: Exogenous Influences on Media, Presidential, and Congressional Framing of Biofuels

This article examines how key political actors—the media, the president, and Congress—framed biofuels from 1999 through 2008, and what factors had the most pronounced influence on their storytelling. Special attention is paid to how their stories concerning biofuels changed in response to shifts in the broader political milieu and whether these actors influenced one another's storytelling. The findings indicate that these actors most commonly told stories concerning biofuels' impacts on the environment (good and bad), the economy (good and bad), and energy security. The results also suggest that while these actors had little if any influence on one another's storytelling, media, presidential, and congressional framing was heavily shaped by the economic climate in the country, and by key events such as 9/11, which elevated the issue of energy security. These events and conditions were vital because they established which storylines would resonate in the public sphere. Related Articles Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narratives on Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39 (3): 373‐400. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00295.x/ Waage, Eric. 2008. “U.S. Energy Policy Response to International Food Prices: The Costs and Effects of Corn Ethanol Production.” Politics & Policy 36 (5): 792‐804. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2008.00135.x/ Davitt, Marcia. 2008. “Biofuels Policy through the Lens of Social Sciences.” Politics & Policy 36 (6): 1148‐1149. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2008.00157_5.x/ Related Media Film Clips: Clean Skies News. 2009. “Congress Discusses Future of Biofuels.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECpYJfpAzY4 Trent, Jonathan. 2012. “Energy from Floating Algae Pods.” TEDGlobal. http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_trent_energy_from_floating_algae_pods.html Bomani, Bilal. 2011. “Plant Fuels that could Power a Jet.” TEDGlobal. http://www.ted.com/talks/bilal_bomani_plant_fuels_that_could_power_a_jet.html U.S. Department of Energy. 2012. “Maps and Data.” Alternative Fuels Data Center. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/data/ Este artículo analiza cómo actores políticos clave—los medios, el presidente y el congreso—enmarcaron los biocombustibles de 1999 a 2008 y qué factores tuvieron la influencia más fuerte en sus historias. Se dedica especial atención a cómo sus historias sobre biocombustibles camb