Intermediate-sized cities in the Global South are experiencing rapid growth, but they also face high vulnerabilities and limited resources. In governing water risk, when faced with competing choices, there is little understanding of how urban decision-makers prioritize actions to mitigate water risks. Therefore, the study examines how local media, as one of the factors shaping urban governance, can influence the priorities of how water risks are managed. Using media framing, the study assesses three urban–riverine water risks emerging from Guwahati’s connection to the Brahmaputra River in Northeast India. Analyzing 50 years of a local newspaper reveals an increasing attention to inadequate water supply issues, with seasonal references to urban flooding and episodic mentions of river pollution. Such differential reporting corresponds to shifts in priorities for resource allocation and institutional engagement toward specific water risks. Studying local newspapers can help to understand the priorities assigned within local governance processes when there are competing risks, limited data and resources.
