Perception of Winter in Canada through La Presse Newspaper (1959-2006)

Submitted by Armida on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 09:58
TitlePerception of Winter in Canada through La Presse Newspaper (1959-2006)
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference2009
AuthorsToupin, J., and Langevin R.
Conference Name77th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 77th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 2009
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationCanmore, AB
KeywordsLa Presse Newspaper, classification, winter, snow, cold
Abstract

A classification has been developed in order to analyze how La Presse Newspaper (one of the largest French-speaking newspapers in Canada and published in Montreal, Quebec) introduces winter to its readers (about one million). A total of 10 winters (from November 1st to April 30th with focus on page 1 and 3) ranging from 1959 to 2006 were selected: 1959-1960, 1965-1966, 1970-1971, 1975-1976, 1980-1981, 1985-1986, 1990-1991, 1995-1996, 2000-2001 and 2005-2006. In all, 894 articles were classified into 7 categories: 1) Snowstorm/Accident/Death, 2) Sport/Tourism, 3) Debates/Ideas, 4) Crime, 5) International News, 6) Festivals, and 7) Environment. As years go by, one notices that the number of articles talking about winter is considerably less significant (for instance 355 articles for 1959-1960, and only 52 articles for 2005-2006), but is more targeted on the front page and on page 3, occupying a larger space and focusing more and more on negative aspects (including more pictures) of the cold season.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2009Toupin.pdf