9 Introduction to Student Research on Food Insecurity

Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. It can be caused by various factors, including financial constraints, lack of access to grocery stores or transportation, and inadequate social support. Over 75,000 individuals in Niagara are experiencing food insecurity, 8 in 10 food-insecure families have incomes above the poverty line, and 1 in 3 post-secondary students in Canada are food-insecure ^[1]. Understanding how the media frames and describes food insecurity is crucial for shaping public perception. Media portrayal can impact how the public views the issue and those affected by it, making accurate and sensitive framing important for raising awareness and promoting effective solutions.

In the following pages you can read about the research projects conducted by students who chose food insecurity as their issue to analyze in the media. Continue to the student work by clicking the next chapter in the blue bar at the bottom of your screen.