Media Reports Research Articles

Influence of public health emergency on city image: the case of COVID-19 stigma on Wuhan city

This study explored the influence of COVID-19 stigma on the city image of Wuhan by adopting the associative group analysis method. The collected data were free associations of the word “Wuhan” from 39 non-Chinese participants residing outside of China. It found that there were 12 meaning categories related to the city image of Wuhan, half of which were related to COVID-19, and the other half were related to Wuhan city. 56.45% of the associated words were related to COVID-19 and 43.55% to Wuhan city. The results demonstrated that the city image of Wuhan was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, mediated by personal experience and perceived media reports. The associated words have constructed a “Wuhan-COVID-19” stereotype, including “Wuhan-birthplace of COVID” and “Wuhan-eating wild animals”. This reflected that the city image of Wuhan endured stigma in the global community. The study provided implications for eliminating stigma and reconstructing group relationships in the global community.

Robodebt: A Socio-Technical Case Study of Public Sector Information Systems Failure

Large-scale public sector information systems (PSIS) that administer social welfare payments face considerable challenges. Between 2014 and 2023, an Australian government agency conceived and implemented the Online Compliance Intervention (OCI) scheme, widely referred to as Robodebt. The scheme's primary purpose was to apply digital transformation in order to reduce labour costs and increase recovery of overpayments. Among its key features were a simplified, but inherently erroneous, estimation method called income averaging, and a new requirement that welfare recipients produce documentation for income earned years earlier. Failure by welfare recipients to comply with mandates resulted in the agency recovering what it asserted to be overpayments. This article presents a case study of Robodebt and its effects on over 1 million of its clients. The detailed case study relies on primary data through Senate and other government hearings and commissions, and secondary data, such as media reports, supplemented by academic sources. Relevant technical features include (1) the reliance on the digital persona that the agency maintains for each client, (2) computer-performed inferencing from client data, and (3) automated decision-making and subsequent action. This article employs a socio-technical systems approach to understanding the factors underlying a major PSIS project failure, by focusing on the system's political and public service sponsors; its participants (users); the people affected by it (usees); and the broader economic, social, and political context. Practical and theoretical insights are presented, with the intention of highlighting major practical lessons for PSIS, and the relevance of an articulated socio-technical frame for PSIS.

Research on the Framework Theory of News Reporting by Western Mainstream Media on the Beijing Winter Olympics

This paper conducts in-depth textual analysis and framework analysis of the data news reports by Western mainstream media on the Beijing Winter Olympics based on the background of media convergence. The research finds that Western media reports exhibit overall characteristics of objectivity, political leanings, changing with the time, and diverse topics. Furthermore, this paper proposes strategies for how China can enhance its national image through external communication, including strengthening media promotion, leveraging social media, fostering international cooperation, and organizing unique cultural events. Through comprehensive and detailed analysis, this paper aims to provide valuable references and insights for enhancing China’s image and influence on the international stage.

The 2020 #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria: Understanding How Perception Influences Government Approach to Civil Uprising in a Dictatorial State

Abstract Dictatorial regimes are known for their non-tolerance syndrome, including for peaceful protests. With manifest dictatorial tendencies, Nigeria, under the President Muhammadu Buhari, fiercely gagged the media and clamped on peaceful protests, believing them to be anti-government uprisings. Despite this repressive approach, the youths embarked on the #EndSARS protest to demand for police accountability. Although the movement could not achieve its desired objectives, it drew international attention to police brutality and unveiled how dictatorial perceptions deny even a democratic government an opportunity to retract its policy steps. This paper analyzes how the Nigerian state escalates its security problems through its perception of, and approach to, peaceful protests. Using data from field survey, acled and documentary media reports, this paper argues that Nigeria’s manifest dictatorial tendencies deny it the opportunity to take in protest demands to initiate pro-people policies that could address its security problems. The implication is that the security environment in the country continues to worsen.

Evolution of the whistleblowing regime: the UAE model

Purpose This study aims to conceptualize the UAE’s whistleblowing model by reviewing recent legislative updates directed toward removing potential legal deterrents, introducing legal protection and establishing numerous external whistleblowing channels. The study surveys these initiatives through the prism of the country’s unique socio-economic and judicial environments. Design/methodology/approach The study applies a conceptual approach to probe the potential impact of the UAE’s legislative initiatives on the country’s whistleblowing regime by connecting the demographic data, the UAE’s legal and regulatory frameworks, academic literature and media reports. Findings Recent legislative updates to the UAE whistleblowing regime are geared toward removal of potential legal deterrents, introduction of legal protection and establishment of external whistleblowing channels for reporting. These constitute the conceptual model of the UAE’s whistleblowing strategy, which is broad in scope and application yet may appear fragmented. Originality/value The study merges a comprehensive review of legislative initiatives and regulatory framework with academic literature to conceptualize the UAE’s whistleblowing model.

Motivations for Methamphetamine (Mkpurummiri) Use and Consequences Among Nigerian Users

Media reports show that methamphetamine use is growing in Nigeria, but there is a paucity of empirical research that examines the motivations for, and consequences of, using the drug. In this study, we explored motivations or reasons for methamphetamine use and implications among 18 users and service providers. We analysed the data thematically to generate themes. The findings show that while most users initiated methamphetamine use in friendship networks, drug dealing also facilitated the initiation. Some participants were motivated to use methamphetamine to stay awake at night and engage in online businesses, while others used the drug to enhance their energy for manual work to improve productivity and enhance sexual drive, performance and pleasure. Although participants believed that methamphetamine use performed some functions, they reported its adverse effects on them and their friends, including irritation, hostility, extreme violent behaviour, delusion, psychiatric disorders, and inability to urinate or defecate for seven days. Additional findings showed that stigma is a prominent barrier to accessing treatment. Therefore, individuals do not use treatment facilities until their condition deteriorates. The findings suggest the need for the urgent provision of information to deter people from methamphetamine uptake and to provide interventions and pathways to treatment that will protect people who use methamphetamine from stigmatisation and other forms of discrimination.

Media and the Mediation of Conflict: The Role of Journalism in Indonesian Football Supporter Violence

Football supporter violence in Indonesia is a significant issue exacerbated by sensationalist media coverage that often emphasizes conflict and negative stereotypes. This study analyzes how media framing influences football supporter behavior and public perception, using Galtung's peace journalism theory as a framework. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and content analysis of media reports. The findings reveal that sensationalist reporting and negative portrayals of supporters contribute to increased tensions and aggressive behaviors. Conversely, though rarely used, peace journalism techniques potentially de-escalate conflicts and promote positive interactions. The study highlights the critical role of cultural and socio-economic factors in shaping media narratives and supporter behavior, suggesting the need for context-sensitive peace journalism. These results advance the theoretical understanding of media framing and conflict resolution and emphasize the importance of ethical journalism. Practical recommendations include adopting balanced reporting practices, collaborative campaigns between media and sports organizations, and further research into the long-term effects of media framing. By promoting responsible journalism, stakeholders can help mitigate violence and foster Indonesia's more inclusive and peaceful football culture.

Paradiplomacy and international conflict: disengagement from China by Swedish local governments

This article analyzes the development of paradiplomatic relations between subnational governments in China and Sweden. The empirical material comprises official documents, media reports, and interviews, and correspondence with local decision makers. Following steady growth in the 1990s and 2000s, the number of paradiplomatic agreements between the two countries declined dramatically at the end of the 2010s. To our knowledge, this extensive “local decoupling” is unprecedented, at least in the history of modern paradiplomacy between Europe and China. The decline can primarily be explained by three interrelated factors: worsening bilateral relations between Sweden and China, growing Swedish concern about the human rights situation in China, and the lack of activity in some of the cooperation projects. Rather than pursuing goals such as peacebuilding and economic benefit, generally described as the main drivers behind local governments’ international activities, several subnational governments in Sweden deemed it appropriate to terminate cooperation with their Chinese counterparts due to other concerns. This development demonstrates the usefulness of a more constructivist perspective of paradiplomacy.

Oesophageal intubations in anaesthetic practice across Australia and New Zealand: A webAIRS analysis of 109 incidents.

Oesophageal intubations are more common than may be realised and can potentially cause significant patient harm even if promptly identified and corrected. Reports of morbidity due to unrecognised oesophageal intubation continue to present in coroner and media reports. Therefore, it would be helpful to identify mechanisms to prevent these events and implement strategies to avoid and identify incorrect endotracheal tube placement. This analysis of oesophageal intubations reported to webAIRS aims to provide an in-depth analysis of all events in which oesophageal intubation occurred. WebAIRS is a web-based, bi-national incident reporting system collecting voluntarily reported anaesthetic events across Australia and New Zealand, with more than 10,500 incidents registered. A structured search through the webAIRS database identified 109 reports of oesophageal intubation reported between July 2009 and September 2022. A common cause of oesophageal intubation was the misidentification of the larynx due to a poor laryngeal view. Desaturation directly attributed to the misplaced endotracheal tube occurred in 43% of all reports. The authors precisely defined early recognised oesophageal intubation and delayed or unrecognised oesophageal intubation. Most reports (74%) described early recognition of the misplaced intubation, of which 27% led to directly contributed to hypoxia. Cardiovascular collapse as a direct consequence of the late recognition of oesophageal intubation was described in five (18%) of these events. There was inconsistency in end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring and interpretation of the resulting waveform. Findings show that oesophageal intubation continues to be an issue in anaesthesia. Incidents described confusion in diagnosis, human factors issues and cognitive bias. Clear diagnostic guidance and treatment strategies are required to be developed, tested and implemented.

미디어 빅데이터 의미연결망을 통해 본 문화도시와 관광 담론 연계: 공주 문화도시 사례

Purpose: This study is aim to make policy suggestions to secure sustainability in promoting Cultural City policies. Cities discover and reinterpret existing original to secure competitiveness, but cities can survive by creating new cultures. Tourism also contributes to the creation of economic effects by emphasizing industrial aspects, but essentially, tourism plays a role in enjoying the culture of the city and further creating a new culture. Nevertheless, culture and tourism tend to become instrumental and means of urban development, which will be set as a hurdle to sustainable urban development. Methods: The discourse that appeared in the media was analyzed targeting Gong-Ju City, Chung-Nam Province, which was recently designated as a Cultural City. For about 6 years from January 2018 to December 2023, big data on cultural cities and tourism mentioned on media reports and SNS were collected, and discourse was presented through frequent word frequency analysis, centrality analysis, and CONCOR analysis. For data collection, processing, and analysis, a big data solution, TEXTOM was used. Results: A total of 4,030 documents and 17,530 words with the keywords of Gong-Ju, Cultural City, and tourism were collected. In addition to the search keywords, tourism-related travel, tourist cities, and tourists accounted for the high frequency along with words such as culture, travel, Chung-Nam, hosting, and promotion. Centrality analysis revealed culture, city, tourism, region, and history are orient direction of discourse. As a result of the discourse analysis, the orientation of the future cultural city through history, the life-style resources of local residents as cultural resources, policies and programs activation before and after the designation of a cultural city, and the possibility of the tourism industry for a cultural city were extracted. Conclusion: Since Gongju, a Cultural City, was initial stage, there was a limit to discovering how it was connected to regional differentiation and tourism. However, it was suggested how to create a new discourse by linking tourism, focusing on the research results and developmental suggestions through previous studies.

Forced Marriage and Sex Trafficking under the Guise of Nikah Siri in Indonesia

Prostitution, forced marriage, and sex trafficking have long been practiced in the Puncak area of West Java, Indonesia. The practice is condoned not only by the surrounding community but also by state officials. This paper resulted from our field research, interviews, and observation in the Puncak area. In addition, it includes an extensive literature review, which encompasses the study of Indonesian and international law regulation, academic writing, and media reports. This paper seeks to uncover the reasons why the practices of sex trafficking and forced marriage are tolerated and what has led to this approval. By dwelling on legal, historical, and anthropological studies, this paper argues that the practices are tolerated because they hide behind a thick veil of cultural-religious justification and are obscured by legal tricks/stratagems, which we call 'trafficking framing.' This framing conceals and camouflages sex trafficking and forced marriage under accepted legal-cultural practices. This paper seeks to uncover the veil of trafficking framing and reveal that the practice of secret marriage (nikah siri) in Puncak is nothing but sex trafficking.

The Israel-Hamas Armed Conflict in the Middle East: A Sociological Lens

The State of Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas have been in conflict for decades. Amid the conflict, Israel is determined to maintain control of Gaza and strive to eliminate Hamas as a terrorist organisation at all costs. Hamas’s objection to Israel’s attempt to occupy Gaza and its refusal to recognise the State of Israel led to violence that resulted in many losses of life and property. This article examined the Israel-Hamas armed conflict in the Middle East, using a sociological lens. Henri Tajfel and John Turner’s Social Identity Theory was adopted as a framework to guide the paper. Using evidence from textbooks, journals, media reports, government publications, and online sources, the results showed that the conflict between Israel and Hamas stems from many factors, including territorial settlement, political and ideological differences, and the role of the international community. The consequences of the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas include loss of life and property, destruction of critical infrastructure, economic disruption, and diplomatic relations. The study recommended the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution that prioritises the protection of human life, dignity, well-being, and critical infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. The international community should stop supporting an escalation of the conflict and instead engage in a peaceful effort to reconcile Israel and Palestine. Further research is needed to determine the coping strategies of the displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and nearby cities.

“Disempowered by the transition”: Manipulated and coerced agency in displacements induced by accelerated extraction of energy transition minerals in Zimbabwe

The haste to reach the net zero emissions target induces a high demand for energy transition minerals (ETMs) required to produce renewable energy technologies. This demand also translates to “accelerated” extraction of the ETMs exposing communities to displacement risks and associated human rights abuses. In order to acquire access to ETMs deposits, governments and extractive companies are collaboratively displacing communities residing on or close to these deposits through manipulation and coercion. The theme of manipulated and coerced agency is the foci of this manuscript. I show how the “urgency” to decarbonize and fast- tracked ETMs mining interact to induce displacements in absence of due diligence. Urgency by mining companies to extract minerals interacts with weak governance and corruption to induce forced resettlement characterized by manipulation of consent in regions where ETMs are concentrated. This article focuses on the case of Buhera district (south-eastern Zimbabwe) where communities were displaced due to lithium mining activities at the Sabi Star mine (run by a Chinese mining company known as Max Mind) to elucidate how manipulation and coercion were utilized to get people to agree to “unfair” resettlement terms. The resettlement programme was deliberately jumbled to confuse peasants so that they consent to a flawed displacement scheme. In the aftermath, people agreed to hasty removals coupled with unfair compensation resulting in their impoverishment. The Buhera case is an epitome of the political ecologies of energy transitions and displacements prevailing across the global south, that needs to be urgently addressed if we are to achieve a fairer and just energy transition. The article leans on the political ecology arguments to argue its case. Information regarding this case was gathered through listening to publicly available documentaries, extensive literature review, media reports and qualitative interviews. In the discussion and conclusions, important steps to enhance the resettled people's agency and participation in ETMs resettlements are recommended. These steps potentially promote successful resettlements that translate into just and sustainable transitions.

Research on the Development Strategy of Wine Enterprises based on ESG Concepts

In recent years, as "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peak" have become hot topics in the international community, low-carbon recycling has gradually become an indispensable element in the high-quality development of the wine industry. From the industry's perspective, actively promoting the green and low-carbon development of the wine industry is the focus of the industry's efforts.2021 In April 2021, the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" Development Guidance for China's Wine Industry pointed out that the wine industry should make a comprehensive transition to green ecological development, and for the first time, the "Zero-carbon Appellation" and "Zero-carbon Factory" will be developed. In April 2021, the Guiding Opinions on the Development of China's Wine Industry in the 14th Five-Year Plan pointed out that the wine industry should make a comprehensive transition to green ecological development, and for the first time set "zero-carbon production areas" and "zero-carbon factories" as the construction targets. 2022, the China Wine Association (CWA) completed the formulation of the industry standard for "green T factories" in respect of white spirits and beer, and in 2023, the CWA carried out a study on the GHG accounting methodology and reporting standards for white spirits enterprises. his paper takes Fenjiu Group's ESG practice action as the research object, through collecting and reviewing the annual reports, ESG reports, announcements on the official website of the company, media reports, ESG practice reports of related listed companies and other materials, and conducts a multi-faceted research and analysis based on the theory of strategic management of the enterprise, and puts forward the related sustainable development strategy by combining with the concept of ESG. Development strategy design based on ESG concept. Firstly, the SWOT tool is used to add the elements analyzed in the previous chapters as strategic elements to the analysis matrix of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and the actions based on ESG concepts optimize the sustainable development while shaping the core competitiveness of Fenjiu Group; then the strategic framework is clarified; finally, the strategic safeguards of Fenjiu Group are formulated. The innovation of the thesis lies in the introduction of ESG concept in the development strategy of wine enterprises, which enriches the theoretical connotation and strategic significance of ESG, innovates the strategic mode and governance mode of sustainable development of wine enterprises, broadens the value boundary of green development, and realizes the governance optimization of diversified development, and also provides a certain reference for the same type of wine enterprises to survive the risks of the industry cycle and realize long-term development.

“Against Forgetting”

This paper investigates the witnessing and memory-making functions of the poetry of Kashmiri-American poet Agha Shahid Ali. Against the backdrop of prevailing institutionalized constraints on journalism and mass media reportage by a postcolonial nation-state in a conflict-ridden territory, this paper shows how Shahid’s poetry fills the lacuna and serves not only as an archive of collective memories of his people, or witness to their sufferings, but also engages the critical as well as emotional faculties of a wider audience to elicit empathies and garner committed solidarities. It throws light on the complexity of witnessing with respect to the poet’s positionality as he bore witness to the occurrences of his homeland while being physically distant from it and yet offering a substitution to news, especially in the present times when journalism, in Kashmir, has failed in its obligation to represent the experiences of the ordinary people. The study primarily focuses on Shahid’s 1997 collection, The Country Without a Post Office, for its investigation of the witnessing functions of his poetry.

Construction of TCM Institution Image: A Corpus-Based Comparative Critical Discourse Study of Chinese and Western Mainstream Media Reports

This study conducts a corpus-assisted comparative analysis of the media images of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) institutions in Chinese and Western media contexts. Applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional critical discourse analysis (CDA) model alongside the TCM Social Image Evaluation Index System, this study explores media image construction and ideological factors shaping the perception of TCM institutions globally through an analysis of linguistic features in keywords, evaluative collocates and modal verbs. It’s found that Chinese media present TCM institutions in a positive light, depicting them as multifaceted organizations with a rich cultural legacy and robust capabilities in medical and scientific research. They showcase TCM institutions as cooperative, promising in integration with modern healthcare, efficient, rapid, flexible, innovative, and imbued with humanitarian values especially during the COVID-19 epidemic. Western media, however, adopt a more cautious stance. They tend to frame TCM institutions as providers of alternative medicine and temporary solutions, with a focus on health preservation, leisure and overall well-being. Concerns have also been raised about the potential illicit activities associated with some massage schools. These disparities in presenting TCM institutions reflect cultural, political and audience demand differences between China and the West. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the media portrayal of TCM institutions, provide insights into the challenges facing the global recognition and acceptance of TCM institutions, and suggest strategies for Chinese media, TCM practitioners, and policymakers to enhance their international image.

Pregnancy in the Paint and the Pitch: Does Giving Birth Impact Performance?

Abstract We examine the impact of giving birth on athletic performance of players in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Using data from media reports and National Womens Basketball Players Association records we specify a productivity model and use a differences-in-means approach to investigate. We do not find any impact of giving birth on player performance in the sample. In the wake of the Gunnarsdottir maternity leave decision against Club Lyon, this research could help inform league policies concerning maternity leave and also contribute to the broader conversation about gender discrimination in the workplace based on perceptions of productivity before and after giving birth.

Norm Setting in Times of Crisis: A Time-Series Analysis of the Dynamics Between Media Reporting and Perceived Norms in the Context of the COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-Out

ABSTRACT Social norms have great potential for mitigating crisis as people align their prevention behavior with the norms they perceive. However, there is insufficient knowledge of how normative perceptions are formed to exploit this potential. Drawing from agenda-setting theory, the present study examined norm-setting processes of media reporting on perceptions of vaccination norms during the COVID-19 pandemic. It combined data of a continuous content analysis of the salience and valence of the vaccination issue and a weekly repeated cross-sectional survey on perceived descriptive (i.e. perceived prevalence of willingness to get vaccinated) and injunctive vaccination norms (i.e. perceived approval of getting vaccinated) in the Swiss population, from February 2021 to February 2022. Time-series-based regression modeling did not support the hypothesized first-level norm setting—the transfer from issue salience in media to perceived descriptive norms in the population. However, we found evidence for second-level norm setting: Changes in issue valence predicted changes in perceived injunctive norms in the Swiss population. The findings provide unique insights into norm-setting processes and highlight the relevance of monitoring media reporting and public perceptions as a basis for evidence-based crisis communication.

Media Representations of Homelessness in Three Mid-Sized Canadian Cities: Integrative Review and Comparative Analysis

The media play a pivotal role in framing narratives about complex social issues like homelessness. This study conducts a comparative analysis to evaluate how homelessness is portrayed within print and social media in three Canadian mid-sized cities. We explore similarities and differences between news print media and Facebook conversations on the broad topic of homelessness with respect to temporal distributions of discussions about homelessness, conversations about encampments, the diversity of voices included in social and print media reports, and the use of stereotypical and stigmatizing discourse about homelessness. Our study reveals seasonal variations in discussions about homelessness within traditional media, while social media maintains a more consistent conversation throughout the year. In both media types, however, the discussions about encampments are frequently intertwined with themes of crime and addiction. Moreover, we observe greater inclusion of voices from individuals with lived experience in print media. We find that discussions within both platforms echo common myths associated with homelessness, perpetuating negative conceptions in the broader community. In light of our findings, we advocate for greater editorial oversight on how discussions about homelessness are framed in print media, technological advancements to control negative conversations on social media platforms and encourage the inclusion of voices from those with lived experience. Our research contributes to an underexplored area, as we illuminate the mechanisms of discourse that shape public perceptions and attitudes about homelessness in both print and social media.

From ‘pop-up’ to permanent: Temporary urbanism as an emerging mode of strategic open-space planning

Pop-up parks have emerged alongside other forms of temporary urbanism as low-cost, informal, community-engaged interventions that address pressing community needs. This article examines four pop-up parks in Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney and Perth) that reappropriated street space for pedestrians and eventually became permanent. The article charts the developmental trajectories of these four projects, drawing on local planning documents, interviews with key actors, and government and media reports on how the pop-up parks performed. It uses mapping to analyse the context of built form, activity and movement flows in and around the four sites. The study shows how these pop-up trials served as a ‘proof of concept’ for permanent spaces, tested their impacts, made community consultation more open, engaging and tangible, and increased community support. These originally temporary spaces also facilitated wider strategic urban development outcomes, emboldening local governments to further improve public space in urban intensification areas.