Journal of Internet Computing and Services (인터넷정보학회논문지)

Korean Society for Internet Information (한국인터넷정보학회)
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News Media Coverage of Carbon Neutrality in Korea and China: A Big Data Analysis

  • Yifan Wang (Dept. of Media and Communication Studies, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Kyung Han You (Dept. of Media and Communication Studies, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Received : 2024.01.31
  • Accepted : 2024.04.17
  • Published : 2024.06.30
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Abstract

This study aims to compare the differences in the carbon neutral agendas of the two countries based on the differing interest positions of the media in the two countries, as well as to analyze the carbon neutral media coverage in South Korea and China. It also seeks to identify the major topics emphasized in the carbon neutral news agenda setting process in the two countries. A total of 49,227 news articles from South Korea and 105,680 news articles from China, covering the period from the declaration of carbon neutrality in both countries in 2020 to May 9, 2022, were collected. CONCOR and topic modeling analyses were performed on these texts. The results found that South Korean media showed a preference for covering carbon neutrality from the perspective of its inhabitants, whereas Chinese media demonstrated a preference for covering carbon neutrality from the viewpoint of the nation. The discourses on coverages largely focus on areas such as energy strategy, business strategy, industrial growth, and international cooperation, with an obvious lack of discourse on the environment. The findings of this study expect to serve as a primary reference in establishing a news coverage strategy which is environmentally sustainable for the media.

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