Oil spill recovery in the media: Missing an Alaska native perspective

We examine the collective interpretations of disaster recovery following the Exxon Valdez oil spill as developed in the alternative Alaska Native newspaper, the Tundra Times. With limited comparisons to Alaska state newspapers, we argue that the differences between the Tundra Times and mainstream media extend to the very process by which each venue goes about constructing media packages. We document differences on four media package elements: ( 1) sponsor activity and media practices; ( 2) cultural resonance; ( 3) package variation; and ( 4) condensing symbols. These journalistic and stylistic differences may have hindered the dissemination of Alaska Native claims to a broader audience. From these findings, we suggest that alternative media help to empower marginalized groups by providing to populations impacted by disasters a venue to tell their own stories.