Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The current study examined the influence of the state and market power on media content within the context of the unevenly developed Chinese media by looking at whether the framing of the Internet in China in news articles would vary with the levels of political rank and financial autonomy enjoyed by individual Chinese newspapers. A scheme indicating different types of current Chinese newspapers operating in the Party-state and market spheres was constructed. A comparative study of the People’s Daily, the flagship mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, and the Beijing Youth Daily, one of the most influential mass-appeal newspapers in China, was conducted. Differences existed in issue salience and use of different types of news frames. The Beijing Youth Daily with more financial autonomy presented its inclination to marginalize politically sensitive issues and its greater likelihood of using the human interest frame than the People’s Daily which, with higher political privileges, was more likely to frame those issues from the perspectives of responsibility and morality. The comparison suggests that we might need to be conservative to draw an inference that the Chinese media would enjoy more political liberality with its increased diversified structure.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Paid dailies in Western Europe and Northern America have seen their circulation decline in the last decade. During the same period free daily newspapers have seen their circulation go up to more than 30 million. In this paper the relation between the two developments is studied in 14 European markets. Circulation development before and after the introduction of free papers was compared. Also data from countries without free papers were used to assess whether non-free dallies markets also suffered. Media substitution, however, seems to be modest at least. Other factors may be more important causes for the decline in paid newspaper circulation. Long term effects, however, are not yet clear.

Publication Type: Work in Progress
Abstract: This is a work-in-progress focusing on the role of gender, especially masculinity, in media representations of world events, and in the militarization that characterizes the current geopolitical arena. This paper begins with an examination of “khaki media,” those media most enthusiastic and supportive of the “war on terror.” Yet in addition to examining the role of masculinity in the media work of more “khaki” personalities such as Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh, this paper will also examine the work of a key media personality known to be opposed to the Bush administration, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. As feminist research has shown us, the step-by-step process of militarization in which society comes to depend on militaristic ideas as primary means of solving problems occurs in myriad ways and often involves ostensibly “oppositional” forces as well as those most clearly calling for war. The Daily Show has become extremely popular among the lucrative young male demographic in the U.S. and it is therefore worthwhile to better understand how this show and how it constructs its unique brand of masculinity. This paper uses a feminist and postcolonial framework to analyze The Daily Show and assess its role in maintaining or challenging the process of militarization, given the common perception of the show as oppositional to the status quo.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The paper examines the portrayal of ethnic minorities in Chinese official news media People's Daily, and we identify variations in both the level of annual coverage devoted to minority communities as well as the themes emphasized in these news reports.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Scholars and pundits alike have expressed concern about the impact of mediated political information sources such as The Daily Show with John Stewart on political attitudes and behavior. This experiment addresses the question of whether or not presentation style has a significant impact on political perceptions and attitude formation. Particularly, whether or not context leads to decreased political efficacy and increased cynicism for those exposed to The Daily Show compared to the attitudes expressed by people exposed to traditional network news. Initial findings suggest that although cynicism and external efficacy may be influenced by the presentation style of The Daily Show, it is possible that due to suspected co-activation of the appetitive and aversive emotional systems, increased cynicism and decreased efficacy may not result in a greater sense of political disempowerment.