Framing development: Identifying dominant themes about the ‘Adani project’ in local regional media

This article reviews the way in which regional development is framed in a hyperlocal regional newspaper. It presents findings from detailed analysis of selected news articles published in a locally-based newspaper about the progress of a proposal by the Adani group to establish a mine in the Galilee Basin, Central Queensland, Australia (‘the Adani project’). The area has a traditional association with mining, and had experienced an economic downturn due to a reduction in mining activity in the region. We expected that the newspaper would frame the Adani project positively, reflecting local support for the project to promote economic recovery. This was not the case. Environmental concerns about the project were dominant in coverage and themes of political responsibility and attribution of blame emerged. The findings add to limited existing knowledge about regional media in Australia operate, and challenge general assumptions that equate being local with being ‘parochial’.