Developing a Model for Media Cohesion in Environmental Crises

contemporary world, and particularly in Iran, environmental crises have emerged as critical challenges that affect not only environmental conditions but also social, economic, and security dimensions. . This research aims to develop a model for media cohesion in environmental crises, utilizing a mixed-methods approach.The study employs Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis for the qualitative phase and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for the quantitative phase to present a comprehensive, multi-dimensional model that links six main themes within a causal-systemic network. The thematic analysis is conducted based on both scientific literature and interview transcripts, while the quantitative phase utilizes a survey method. The population under study includes academic experts (faculty members) in disaster management and communication studies, as well as practitioners in the fields of media and disaster management.Based on the combined findings (qualitative and quantitative), the final model of media cohesion in environmental crises is presented as a causal-systemic framework. In this model, “complex contextual challenges” serve as system inputs (external barriers); “institutional coordination and management strategies” and “professionalization and human resource empowerment” act as mediating processes (structural and human facilitators); “content requirements and standards” and “integrated and intelligent media space management” function as direct outputs (objective indicators of cohesion); and “media functions and strategies” represent the final outcomes (strategic goals). This model emphasizes the primacy of institutional structures and the necessity of simultaneous reforms in governance frameworks, offering an operational and indigenous model for media policy-making under crisis conditions.