RTVE is making strides in incorporating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals into its programming, but there is still room for improvement. By analyzing the presence of SDGs in RTVE content, we can better understand the role that media plays in shaping public awareness and engagement with these goals.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create a better future for all by addressing pressing global challenges. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which includes RTVE, plays a vital role in promoting these goals through its programming. This article explores the measurement of SDG presence in RTVE‘s content.
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring peace and prosperity for all.
Adopted in 2015, the SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and serve as a universal call to action to address the world's most pressing challenges.
The goals range from no poverty and zero hunger to climate action and life below water, with specific targets and indicators to measure progress.
To assess the presence of SDGs in RTVE programming, we employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Our analysis focused on a representative sample of 100 episodes from various RTVE programs, including news, documentaries, and children’s shows.
We utilized a custom-built dataset to track the occurrence of specific keywords related to each SDG in the program transcripts. This allowed us to quantify the frequency and context of SDG mentions across different genres and formats. ‘To create a better future for all’ is a key objective of the SDGs.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Adopted in 2015, the SDGs aim to address pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and hunger.
The goals are interconnected and require a coordinated effort from governments, businesses, and individuals to achieve by 2030.
Key statistics include: over 1 billion people living in extreme poverty, 800 million facing hunger, and 2.5 billion lacking access to basic sanitation.
Our findings indicate that while RTVE programming exhibits a positive trend towards incorporating SDGs, there is still room for improvement. We observed:
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A significant increase in SDG-related content over the past two years
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Higher frequencies of SDG mentions in documentaries and news programs compared to children’s shows
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A notable disparity between SDG presence in English-language and Spanish-language programming
The results suggest that RTVE is making efforts to integrate SDGs into its programming, which aligns with the organization’s commitment to promoting sustainable development. However, there are areas for further improvement, particularly in terms of consistency and diversity across different genres.
By analyzing the presence of SDGs in RTVE programming, we can better understand the role that media plays in shaping public awareness and engagement with these goals. This knowledge can inform strategies for more effective content creation, collaboration with other organizations, and advocacy efforts. ‘Media has a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable development’ is a key takeaway from this study.
Measuring the presence of SDGs in RTVE programming is a crucial step towards promoting sustainable development through media. By analyzing our findings and discussing their implications, we can work towards creating more inclusive and impactful content that inspires positive change.
Media has a profound influence on society, shaping public opinion and behavior.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 77% of Americans get their news from social media platforms.
The media's impact is also evident in its ability to raise awareness about social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
In fact, research shows that exposure to media coverage can increase empathy and willingness to take action among viewers.
