• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.45
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• pp.463-495
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• 2009

Korea has started to pay attention to civic journalism in recent years while it initially emerged in the United State since late 1980s. Furthermore, albeit some discernable limitations, the Internet has played an important role in fertilizing civic journalism as indicated by the emergence of online news media and the increasing number of civic journalists engaged in the online activities. Whereas there are some patterns of civic journalism practice and the civic influence commonly observed in both countries, there are significant factors that distinguish th1e case of Korea from that of the U.S. The purpose of this study is to compare the two countries in terms of the patterns of civic journalism practice and civic influence. This goal has been achieved by analyzing ‘CNN iReport’ in the U.S. and ‘Ohmynews’ in Korea, both of which are prime civic journalism websites. Those websites have been compared in light of four standards of civic journalism: first, the degree of post-objectivism; second, the search for effective resolutions of social problems; third, civic engagement in the news making process to enhance bottom-up agenda setting; and finally, citizens’ interaction with the news. The results reveal that the American civic journalism website is more likely to shed light on deviating from the principle of objectivity and seeking alternatives and resolutions of social problems. Moreover, it effectively utilizes civic engagement in the news Abstracts 551 making process as indicated by the higher numbers of civic journalists and civic news resources. Also, readers’ interaction with the news was found to be more active in the iReport website than in the Ohmynews.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.26
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• pp.45-82
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to examine the concept of civic journalism and the contents of Korean Internet newspapers that might reflect the possibilities of this new medium for civic journalism practices. This study examined how far and deep civic journalism practices have extended into Korean Internet newspapers as journalism's new tradition. More specifically, this study analyzed news articles of Korean Internet newspapers to uncover any differences among civic journalism Internet newspapers with different citizen reporter systems. The composite measure based upon ten elements of civic journalism practices was used as indicator of civic journalism practices. To obtain systematic data on news offered by Korean Internet newspapers on the World Wide Web, four major Internet newspapers, including Ohmynews, Ngotimes, Netpinion and Pressian were examined by a content analysis in April and May of 2003. Findings of this study reveal that many Korean newspapers do not fully exploit the opportunities and advantages offered by the new medium for civic journalism practices in online environments. Both aggregate and individual level of analysis for the civic journalism index reveal that there are some differences between non-civic journalism and civic journalism Internet newspapers using citizen reporter systems. However, overall performances of civic journalism Internet newspapers are not good enough to support the argument that civic journalism is well practiced in Korean Internet newspapers. Nonetheless, it would not be fair to conclude that Korean Internet newspapers have totally ignored the Internet's potential to increase the civic journalism performance in online environments.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.43
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• pp.359-384
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• 2008

Nowadays, newspaper industry faces a crisis in terms of two aspects: First, in this multi-channel era, it has competed with the online journalism appearing in many digital media. Second, with the decrease of numbers of readers and political participation, the roles of newspaper has to be changed accordingly. The concept of civic journalism emerged as a solution in this context. The purpose of the study is to explore the factors in how journalists perceive the civic journalism. The Q-methodology was adapted to identify the factors composing of the belief, values, attitudes, ideas, and opinions toward the civic journalism. Total of 24 Q-sample (statements) were sorted by 27 P-sample (journalists) who were selected by their gender, years of service, and the like. The Quanl program finally produced 3 factors that were interpreted and named as follows: Factor I, the Complimentary Journalism, the civic journalism would fulfill the functions that traditional journalism has neglected. Factor II, the Alternative Journalism inducing the citizen's participation in the public areas. Factor III, the Functional Journalism, emphasizing dysfunction of the civic journalism.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.58
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• pp.7-30
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• 2012

The advent of Social Journalism coincided with the rise of social media to create and deliver news information; as a type of civic journalism, social journalism may be characterized as a new form of information gathering and news reporting which is fed by citizens creating news information through their use social networking services (SNSs). The current study analyzed a Facebook page called, to determine how this page was utilized during the onset of the citizen movement for the Egyptian democratic revolution to produce news, to facilitate interaction among the public and to deliver the news under the form of networked journalism. Each post uploaded onto the Facebook page from January 27 till February 2, 2011 was coded in its category, content and the contextual frame of the news. The results of the study showed that during the first week, straight news rather than those with opinions was produced most frequently. The research findings of the current study suggest that in a society of political turmoil, such as in Egypt and other Arabic countries, when the institutionalized media are controlled severely by the government or other forces, SNSs can perform journalistic media roles which create and distribute news information representing facts and reality, and simultaneously facilitate the public's interactions on social and political issues.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.33
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• pp.253-285
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• 2006

This study focuses on the on-line civic social movement which is based on the individual dimension. This kind of on-line social movement is organized voluntarily by the citizens who have the common concerns about issues and problems raised in the net. In the context, this paper analyzes what is the characteristics of discourse formed in the process of public discussion concerned about the anti-Nix movement. And, this study also analyzed who was processed the anti-Nix movement through which steps and what kinds of way in the case of anti-nix movement. Based on the research results, the anti-Nix movement is led by the organizer of the movement and the active participants of it. This study also found out that the various movement strategies of the site organizer were the major reasons of the success of anti-Nix movement. This study also found out that the discussion board of anti-Nix movement is close to the function and role of traditional public sphere rather than those of the swearwords and libels.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.60
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• pp.52-74
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• 2012

Legislation needs to be understood within a political, societal relationship among lawmaking bodies rather than by legal provision itself. In order to examine features and functions of communication in the process of legislation, this study conducted focus group interviews with experts as well as in-depth individual interviews. The result of this research as follows: First, the study found that although the domestic legislative process has been made by active interactions among lawmaking subjects, it was hard to conclude that this procedure is providing effective and productive legislative agenda because of chaotic communications made along the process. Second, the study found that national legislative process has been gradually moving, although restricted, to an open political space, the National Assembly, from a closed space, the executive branch. Third, the study found a remarkable feature including growing influence of experts groups and civic organizations in the legislative process. It is a significant change that legislative staff such as National Assembly aides, investigators, expert committeemen and deputy director generals played a role of "insiders," unnoticeably influencing the legislative process, and that civic organizations and NGOs, which have been excluded in the previous legislative processes, emerged as a new influencing circle in the process. Lastly, the study found that media organizations, in the process of developing agenda, had a strong impact on the National Assembly as a subject forming public issues and as a messenger of the legislative agenda while they played a limited role in affecting the government. This study discusses why communication in the domestic legislative process is important and what are some hindering and facilitating factors in the process.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.44
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• pp.44-75
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• 2008

The candle rally against the import of American beef which lasted for a long time was full of various types of social movement. That is, new media including mobile phone, Internet, Internet cafes played an important role in mobilizing people around the rally. Thus, this research focuses on the meaning and effect of these kinds of movement. In particular, it analyzed the possibility of real time broadcasting through the Internet as civic journalism, which received much attention in the rally. For this, this research used case study and interview as main research method. Case study focused on Internet cafes based on the media coverage of the rally. Interviews were conducted with workers at OhmyTV, Color TV, and 615TV. These workers at progressive media emphasized on the scene coverage as the advantage of real time delivery. Transmitting many citizens' voices was another advantage. It is expected that personal media and progressive media which try to show the scent as it is will play an important role in the future journalism with the expansion of Wibro.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.48
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• pp.135-152
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• 2009

This study deals with South Korea broadcasting reporters reporting North Korea issues focusing on KBS and MBC. More specifically, this study focuses on what kinds of broadcasting reporting restriction factors are in reporting North Korea issues in Korea. In order to achieve the goal of this study, this study attempted the depth-interview with six broadcasting reporters working on KBS and MBC. As study results, this study found out that Korean broadcasting reporters were sensitively influenced by public opinions concerned about a specific North Korea issue and political situations that a North Korea issue was positioned. In order to overcome such kinds of reporting restrictions in reporting North Korea issues, this study suggests that KBS and MBC needs more professional manpower dealing with North Korea issues and outside help such as civic social associations.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.43
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• pp.117-151
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• 2008

This paper regards former Samsung lawyer Kim Yong-Chul's action of claiming Samsung Group's slush fund as typical Whistle-Blowing from inside. News frames in KBS, SBS TV were examined through comparative analysis. In formal feature, 'episodic news frame' hold an absolute majority in both stations. From news sources, the group of whistle-blower such as lawyer Kim Yong-Chul and civic groups was confronted with Samsung and state authorities including the Prosecutor, financial agencies. Analysis on the theme of news coverages demonstrated 5 frames: 'public announcing frame', 'news of conflict frame' 'demanding a close inquiry frame', 'declaration of conscience frame', 'causing social upheaval frame', Analysis result shows that 'public announcing frame' was most frequently used in reporting and there was distinction between KBS and SBS in 'declaration of conscience frame' and 'causing social upheaval frame'. Relatively KBS preferred 'declaration of conscience frame' and SBS would use 'causing social upheaval frame', from which reciprocal relation as media ownership could be analogized. Both media tend to make light of in-depth news coverages on structural issues or essential settlement and it is shown that both stations treated this situation with intriguing audiences as stressing sensitive parts in this event. Follow-up of changing process of 'declaration of conscience frame' through diachronic analysis on framing informs that additional exposure of 'Lee Yong Chul', former secretary in Nov 19, 2007 influenced increasing of frequency of using 'declaration of conscience frame'. However, news reporting on whistle-blower in KBS and SBS generally adheres to passive attitude of following changes in the surroundings rather than playing an active role in improving social recognition on whistle-blowing, which can induce to the spread of negative feature on it. Thus it is assumed that terrestial television broadcasting should regard whistle-blowing as contradiction in social structures and active depth reporting seems to be neded for improving social recognition on whistle-blowing.