How Mainstream and Alternative Media Shape Online Mobilization: A Comparative Study of News Coverages in Post-Colonial Macau
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
2.1. Framing Theory and Protest Paradigm
2.2. Mainstream Media’s Bias against Protest
2.3. Shifting Bias through Alternative Media
2.4. Research Question
3. Research Method
3.1. Case of Macau’s “Anti-Retirement Package Bill” Event
3.2. Sample Selection
3.3. Measurement
4. Result
4.1. News Attention and Frequency of Coverages
- 1.
- Latent period:
- 2.
- Active period:
- 3.
- Cooling-off period:
4.2. Comparison of Framing Strategies between Mainstream Media and Alternative Media
4.3. Comparison of “Protest Paradigm” Framing Devices in the Protest Coverage
5. Conclusions
- Thematic frames: the news articles are framed thematically; the articles focus on the protest group’s goals and issues rather than their actions;
- Source from protest group: the news articles of protest rely heavily on the protest group as a news source; the coverage tends to cite the protesters or people who have a supportive attitude toward the protest;
- Spectacle: an emphasis on the numbers of protesters and their peaceful actions; the protesters’ brave attitude; the high spirits and the unity of the protest group; and the well-ordered nature of the demonstration;
- Effective goals: emphasize that the protest’s practical goal can bring about substantive changes.
- Public approval: a claim that the public, media, bystanders, or residents support the protest and are concerned about the issues.
- Positive impact: an emphasis on the positive effects of the protest (e.g., the protest can promote economic growth, can improve people’s livelihood, can improve environmental quality, can promote social progress, can change the backward situation in social security, welfare, and service).
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Protest Paradigm | Score “−1” (Legitimization) | Score “0” (Not Mentioned) | Score “1” (Marginalization) |
---|---|---|---|
Show | The news coverage of protests tends to select and put emphasis on the lawlessness and the violent behaviors of the protesters; the news coverage focusses on the dramatic activities of the protest and depicts the protesters’ young age, funny dress, and immature appearance. The coverage usually ignores the goals of the protest. | ||
Goals | The coverage of protests focusses on the internal dissent of protesters’ goals, the noticeably laughable and radical slogans, or the funny ideas. | ||
Public attitude | The coverage of the protests emphasizes the public disapproval of the protest. | ||
Impact | The coverage emphasizes the possible negative impacts of the protest. For instance, the protest may cause the inconvenience to the transportation system, or create disorder in society, and may be inconvenient for the residents living nearby or people working in the neighborhoods. |
Period | Frequency | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Latent period (11 December 2013–19 May 2014) | 28 | 11.5% |
Active period (20 May 2014–27 May 2014) | 140 | 57.6% |
Cooling-off period (28 May 2014–5 July 2015) | 75 | 30.9% |
Total | 243 * | 100% |
The Stance of New Article | Mainstream Media (%a) | Alternative Media (%b) | Difference (%a−%b) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Headline a | The stance of “Headline” (Highly supportive) | 10.0% (N = 14) | 51.5% (N = 53) | −41.5% |
The stance of “Headline (Highly critical) | 2.1% (N = 3) | 0.0% (N = 0) | 2.1% | |
Main Body b | The stance of “Main body” (Highly supportive) | 21.4% (N = 30) | 62 (60.2%) | −38.8% |
The stance of “Main body” (Highly critical) | 3.6% (N = 5) | 0.0% (N = 0) | 3.6% |
Source | Mainstream Media (%a) | Alternative Media (%b) | Difference (%a−%b) | χ2 | df | p |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Use of protest group a | 49.3% (N = 69) | 65.7% (N = 69) | −17.7% | 8.549 | 2 | p < 0.01 |
Use of target group b | 31.4% (N = 44) | 14.6% (N = 15) | 16.9% | 10.693 | 2 | p < 0.01 |
Media Stance | Show | Goal | Public Attitude | Impact | Tone of Article | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Media Stance | 1 | 0.196 ** | 0.506 ** | 0.425 ** | 0.179 ** | 0.556 ** |
Show | 1 | 0.375 ** | 0.516 ** | 0.418 ** | 0.482 ** | |
Goal | 1 | 0.521 ** | 0.445 ** | 0.705 ** | ||
Public attitude | 1 | 0.365 ** | 0.688 ** | |||
Impact | 1 | 0.528 ** | ||||
Tone of article | 1 |
Media | Alternative Media (a) * | Prodemocracy Media (b) * | Neutral Media (c) * | Conservative Media (d) * | χ2 | df | p | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | ||||
Paradigm “Show” | 26.94 | 6 | <0.001 | ||||||||
Spectacle scene | 52 | 50.5% | 44 | 67.69% | 6 | 54.55% | 21 | 32.8% | |||
Freak show | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 5 | 7.80% | |||
Paradigm “Goal” | 65.66 | 6 | <0.001 | ||||||||
Effective goals | 89 | 86.4% | 41 | 63.08% | 6 | 54.55% | 18 | 28.10% | |||
Ineffective goals | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 1.54% | 0 | 0.0% | 8 | 12.50% | |||
Paradigm “Public attitude” | 47.42 | 6 | <0.001 | ||||||||
Approval | 87 | 84.5% | 45 | 69.23% | 7 | 63.64% | 21 | 32.80% | |||
Disapproval | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 4.70% | |||
Paradigm “Impact” | 76.85 | 6 | <0.001 | ||||||||
Positive impact | 23 | 22.3% | 44 | 67.69% | 6 | 54.55% | 12 | 18.80% | |||
Negative impact | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 4.62% | 0 | 0.0% | 14 | 21.90% |
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Xu, M. How Mainstream and Alternative Media Shape Online Mobilization: A Comparative Study of News Coverages in Post-Colonial Macau. Journal. Media 2022, 3, 453-470. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030032
Xu M. How Mainstream and Alternative Media Shape Online Mobilization: A Comparative Study of News Coverages in Post-Colonial Macau. Journalism and Media. 2022; 3(3):453-470. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030032
Chicago/Turabian StyleXu, Min. 2022. "How Mainstream and Alternative Media Shape Online Mobilization: A Comparative Study of News Coverages in Post-Colonial Macau" Journalism and Media 3, no. 3: 453-470. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030032