This paper enriches our understanding of the history of U.S. environmentalism by examining the media’s coverage of urban air pollution in the post-war period. Specifically, an analysis of media content from this period helps explain why modern environmentalism arose in the 1960s as a popular movement for strong regulations at the local, state, and national level. By prodding readers to take action on air pollution control in their cities, newspapers increased the likelihood that city residents would take a greater interest in environmental issues in general. By framing the issue of air pollution as a ubiquitous and transboundary problem, newspapers helped raise support among city residents for action at multiple levels of government. Finally, by framing the issue of air pollution as an immense and worsening public health crisis in the 1960s, newspapers helped galvanize support for strong regulations among the citizenry, particularly in the 1960s.

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