Research on Emotion about Media Memory of Wenxi Fire in Central Daily News

Abstract

The author conducted a comprehensive study on the emotions reflected in The Central Daily News coverage of the Wenxi Fire, utilizing the digital analysis tool ROST CM6 in combination with historical research. The media memory of the Wenxi Fire in The Central Daily News reflects the emotional response and guidance of the National Government towards this disastrous event. The newspaper's spirited stance on the War of Resistance against Japan invigorated the public’s morale. Through selective reporting and, at times, the outright omission of facts, the newspaper initially mitigated the public’s criticism towards the central and Hunan provincial governments during the first phase, when the cause of the fire was still under investigation. In the second phase, after the cause was determined, the newspaper successfully shifted the blame for this governmental failure to the Japanese invaders, the Hunan provincial government, and the “righteously indignant” public. Through a series of carefully orchestrated actions, the newspaper managed to quell public anger, boost morale, and foster a stronger sense of national unity under the National Government, ultimately enhancing its image.