• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.472-485
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• 2014

This study focuses on the news making system of the prime time news of PSB in Korean society, where the presence of ethnic minorities is increasing rapidly. Although the World Wide Web has become one of the most attractive media over the last decade, Korean PSB, Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), still remains the most popular and influential medium. Therefore, the process of analyzing news making system of ethnic minorities in Korean society represented in Korean PSB as a social construction is meaningful in that it provides an important key to understand the cultural and political background and characteristics of society. For this purpose, the article tries to understand news making process when producing news related to ethnic minorities in the Korean society such as migrant workers, married migrant women and mixed-heritage children of multicultural families by interview with ten reporters in KBS. As a result, most KBS reporters had stereotypes towards multiculturalism and migrants and news reports relating to ethnic minorities are usually produced routinely, using a set of rules that have become part of KBS culture.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.279-282
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• 2010

Objectives: This study investigates whether Korean news media pay more attention to emerging diseases than chronic ones, and whether they closely follow the changes in the magnitude of health risks of chronic or well-known diseases. These two features are expected to appear as the result of surveillance function served by health journalism that should be the main source of the public's risk perception. Methods: The number of stories published in 10 newspapers containing the words, 'SARS,' 'Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy,' 'Avian Influenza,' and 'Influenza A virus' was compared with the number of stories on chronic or wellknown diseases. We also counted the annual number of stories, published in a 12-year period, containing following terms: 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' 'hypertension,' 'pneumonia,' and 'tuberculosis.' The number was compared with the actual mortality of each disease. Results: Although cancer represented the primary cause of mortality, the newspapers covered key emerging diseases more than cancer or other well-known diseases. Also, media coverage of 'pneumonia' and 'tuberculosis' did not vary in accordance with changes in the mortality of each disease. However, the news media coverage did vary in accordance with the mortality of 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' and 'hypertension.' Conclusions: Korean health journalism was found to have both strong and weak points. The news media reduced the relative level of attention given to pneumonia and tuberculosis. Bearing in mind the major influence of news coverage on risk perception, health professionals need to be more proactive about helping to improve Korean health journalism.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.50
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• pp.143-163
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• 2010

This study explores the headlines of the metro sections posted in the major domestic news media during 1998 and 2009 and examines if the media contribute to construction of the reality. The data were systematical sampled from three main evening news programs representing each broadcasting company and the seven major nationwide newspapers (n=53,765). Results suggest the selection of news items should be influenced by the property of the regime and the trend for the time. This influence led to similarity among the news media to some extent, which are partially explained by the objectivity principle guiding the whole process of news making. Meanwhile, there was clear difference among the news media in general, and between the medium (broadcasting vs. newspaper) and within a medium, more specifically. The difference can be explained by the interaction of the property of the regime and the trend for the time and other factors including journalistic paradigm and ownership of each company.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.32
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• pp.295-332
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• 2006

This study inquires at behavior and attitude of gatekeepers at major Korean media in the process of selecting and covering newsmakers, with focusing on factors, paths and practices in making news on the people. The study assumes that gatekeepers' social networking process with social elites, based on birth places, alma mater and kinship, plays great role in making people in the news. The study applies methods of in-depth interviews with people-page gatekeepers and content analysis of news on newsmakers. The in-depth interviews and content analysis unveil that people-page gatekeepers tend to support high society and social elite group. Furthermore, through the process of news-making, the gatekeeper group shares social capital such as economic exchanges and socio-political influences with social elite group. The result of interviews and analysis confirm that social networking based on personal affiliation plays as an important factor in selecting and covering newsmakers. With in-depth analysis of news contents, the study finds out that social elite groups of top government officials, corporate CEOs, medical doctors, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, college professors, cultural celebrities and journalists, who are predominantly male, appear on people pages much frequently out of proportion. The content analysis also reveal that 'personal news,' which cover personal and private life or unilaterally promote newsmakers predominate in terms of frequency and amount over socially-important or pubic-interested 'public news.' In terms of news values, fragmentary news composed of sensational, personal and gossiping elements appear more frequently than socially-meaningful news with strong social issues and public messages.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.66
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• pp.242-272
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• 2014

This study examines why follow-up investigative programs about the sinking of the Cheonan Patrol Combat Corvette(ROKS Cheonan) have not been produced, despite much speculation surrounding the cause of the sinking since November 2010, when KBS investigative program, In-Depth 60 Minutes which had covered the incident was aired. We have uncovered four reasons through a series of in-depth interviews with producers and reporters, as follows. First, Korean military authorities monopolized relevant information, while the producers could not prove or confirm the validity of the findings of the JIG(Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group)'s report because the facts had been revealed partially and selectively by the authorities and the press' scientific investigation were rejected by the authorities. Second, the crew of In-Depth 60 Minutes was subjected to severe disciplinary action by the Korea Communications Commission. This caused a chilling effect, - it broke the producers' resolve to further explore the reason behind the sinking. Furthermore, the screening of the investigative documentary, Project Cheonan Ship was cancelled without prior notice, presumably by the power of the State and markets. Third, the reorganization and shake-up of personnel by broadcasting stations' presidents appointed by the power of the State crushed the spirit of PD Journalism. Finally, the "red purge" factions stigmatized by the political or military, or the mainstream press, caused the producers or broadcasters to engage in self-censorship. The idea has been used in Korea as a smoke screen to deflect public attention. Nevertheless, the producers hope to shed light on the Cheonan sinking incident and to prove reasonable doubts by pursuing follow-up investigations.