Journalism and Media

2025

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022

20 pages, 1663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Shifts in Social Media Usage in Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis Across Pre-, During-, and Post-COVID-19 Periods

by Amir Hamza, Dai Yonghong and Ihsan Ullah

Journal. Media 2025, 6(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6020059 - 19 Apr 2025

Viewed by 255

Abstract

This study investigates the evolving trends in social media usage in Pakistan across three key periods: pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19. This research bases its analysis on data obtained from Stat Counter Global Stats to understand changes in user selection of platforms together [...] Read more.

This study investigates the evolving trends in social media usage in Pakistan across three key periods: pre-COVID-19, during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19. This research bases its analysis on data obtained from Stat Counter Global Stats to understand changes in user selection of platforms together with behavioral patterns and social consequences. To ensure validity and reliability, the data were cross-checked with publicly available statistics from individual social media platforms, ensuring consistency in reported usage trends. Facebook held the top spot on social media before the pandemic, yet YouTube together with Instagram and Twitter gained substantial growth from pandemic-era users seeking entertainment and information as well as social contact. Facebook resumed its leadership position following the pandemic period with Instagram and YouTube staying highly popular among users. This research shows Pakistan faces an ongoing digital disparity between metropolises and rural areas, thus requiring better Internet networks alongside digital education initiatives to overcome this gap. This research shows that social media platforms must deliver cultural-specific content together with features that address Pakistani user needs. This study recognizes mental health challenges from heavy social media usage, so it recommends platform-based tools establishing better online behavior practices. This paper proposes strategic guidance for policymakers and social media platforms to establish inclusive digital progress and achieve digital balance in Pakistan. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Persuasion Strategies Used by Medical Experts vs. Political Figures: A Study of Coronavirus-Related Media Discourse

by Mohammad Mohtasham, Fatemeh Mahdavirad, Ali Akbar Jabbari and Golnar Mazdayasna

Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010034 - 27 Feb 2025

Viewed by 453

Abstract

Concentrating on different types of persuasion strategies used by medical experts and political figures, the present study aims to examine persuasion strategies in medical vs. political discourse. Four corpora of speeches and interviews of four different groups of politicians and health professionals related [...] Read more.

Concentrating on different types of persuasion strategies used by medical experts and political figures, the present study aims to examine persuasion strategies in medical vs. political discourse. Four corpora of speeches and interviews of four different groups of politicians and health professionals related to COVID-19 were selected. Two corpora belonged to Iranian figures, and two corpora represented Western figures. Then, using a framework which encompasses textual and interpersonal markers, the persuasive properties of the four corpora were investigated. The results indicated that logical markers emerge as the most frequent elements in textual subcategories of the persuasive metadiscourse observed in all four corpora. Moreover, in the case of the interpersonal subcategories, it was found that although hedges have a key role in the persuasive qualities of the texts, certainty markers appear to be largely absent within this corpus, which could suggest that the speakers are reluctant to take a stance while discussing a divisive and new issue such as COVID-19. The results provide insights into how the public’s understanding of the situation can be shaped and shifted in times of crisis, using persuasive devices by public figures. Full article

20 pages, 527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participation of Social Media Influencers in Communicating the Global Health Crisis: An Observation of Chinese-Origin Influencers Across Argentina, the UK, and Spain During COVID-19

by Yiheng Wang and Felipe Navarro Nicoletti

Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010013 - 24 Jan 2025

Viewed by 924

Abstract

This work focuses on the digital communicative practices of influencers, as the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a communicational doorway from diverse perspectives, and social media has emerged as an important tool for people to maintain contact and acquire information. Additionally, the preventive and [...] Read more.

This work focuses on the digital communicative practices of influencers, as the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a communicational doorway from diverse perspectives, and social media has emerged as an important tool for people to maintain contact and acquire information. Additionally, the preventive and obligatory social distancing measures have driven us to reconsider methods of human interaction. Digital communication as the primary means of connection in the context of COVID-19 encompasses social interaction, entertainment, and informative channels. These facets usually coalesce within a single space or intersect when the practices of influencers are observed. Therefore, three influencers of Chinese origin residing in different countries are analysed, given that China was the initial epicentre of COVID-19. Influencers of Chinese descent living in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Argentina are selected to enable an exploration of more sociocultural diversity. The significance of influencers in disseminating information and content to society continues, according to observation, particularly among younger demographics. Although their main efforts do not reside in communicating COVID-19 within the context of the pandemic, their contribution indicates a complementary solution to fostering social interaction and debunking discourses of hatred aimed at individuals of Chinese or Asian descent. Full article

2024

Jump to: 2025, 2023, 2022

11 pages, 412 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changing Health Information on COVID-19 Vaccination in Asia

by Hiroko Costantini, Rosa Costantini and Rie Fuse

Journal. Media 2024, 5(2), 526-536; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5020035 - 29 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1601

Abstract

The informational domain related to COVID-19 reflects the degree of uncertainty and pace of evolution of the pandemic. This places a burden on peoples’ searches for information to guide their choices, importantly including for COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, it is important for health communications [...] Read more.

The informational domain related to COVID-19 reflects the degree of uncertainty and pace of evolution of the pandemic. This places a burden on peoples’ searches for information to guide their choices, importantly including for COVID-19 vaccines. Thus, it is important for health communications that support vaccination campaigns to attenuate vaccine hesitancy to be accessible, including in terms of readability, and adapted to the evolving pandemic. This paper aims to understand internet searches on COVID-19 vaccination, specifically the mix of sources and readability of the sources over a two-year period (2021–2023) in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, for search results in English, as English is a main language for each of these locations. The sources accessed through online searches in June 2021 and May 2023 were categorized by type of source and whether they were from one of the focal locations or elsewhere. The readability of information from web-search results was assessed using a set of readability tests (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Grade level). Over the two-year period there was an increase in government sources and reduction in mass media sources with distinct local patterns. Local government sources increased in Singapore whereas foreign government and multi-lateral organization sources increased in Hong Kong, with the Philippines being an intermediate pattern. In contrast to the changing mix of sources, the readability tests indicate a low proportion of URLs scoring within recommended readability thresholds across locations and types of sources over the two years. Information on COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment is an important part of health communications that includes internet search. The paper contributes to understanding health communications during a pandemic, including mix of local and non-local sources and contingency on local social and health context. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Age of the Expert—COVID-19, Expertise, and Conflicts of Interest in Austrian Media Reporting

by Johannes Scherling and Anouschka Foltz

Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 163-188; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010012 - 1 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2179

Abstract

Background: Experts are a favorite source of information in the news media as they have the ability to provide balanced and authoritative comments on important issues. However, two factors cast doubt on the extent to which such experts can actually provide balanced information: [...] Read more.

Background: Experts are a favorite source of information in the news media as they have the ability to provide balanced and authoritative comments on important issues. However, two factors cast doubt on the extent to which such experts can actually provide balanced information: conflicts of interest and areas of expertise. In this paper, we analyze the use of expert voices during the COVID pandemic in two Austrian broadsheet papers. Methods: We examine the use of reporting verbs employed to indicate the journalists’ stance towards the expert comments as well as the relationship of those comments to the experts’ fields of expertise and to any potential conflicts of interest. Results: Our analysis shows that the media uncritically reported experts that had considerable conflicts of interest, while others were permitted to comment on topics far outside their particular fields. Conclusions: In the absence of journalistic scrutiny, distance, and context, both of these practices are likely to have led audiences to take the experts’ comments at face value and therefore to have embraced unbalanced information that amplified official narratives, to the exclusion of alternative voices. Full article

2023

Jump to: 2025, 2024, 2022

15 pages, 1026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Love, Like or Angry in Times of COVID-19? Analysing News Brands’ Audience Engagement on Facebook Amidst a Pandemic

by Jonathan Hendrickx, Annelien Van Remoortere and Michaël Opgenhaffen

Journal. Media 2023, 4(3), 931-945; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4030060 - 5 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2138

Abstract

As an integral part of their online strategies and business models, news outlets diffuse their online content on social media platforms such as Facebook to increase traffic. They thereby succumb to the contingencies and constraints of third platforms infamous for their sudden changes [...] Read more.

As an integral part of their online strategies and business models, news outlets diffuse their online content on social media platforms such as Facebook to increase traffic. They thereby succumb to the contingencies and constraints of third platforms infamous for their sudden changes in algorithms. In this article, we assess engagement patterns of 140,359 Facebook posts of 17 Belgian news brands between March 2020 and 2021. We map out differences in audience engagement of news outlets’ Facebook posts related and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic and differences between mainstream and alternative news outlets. We find that COVID-19-related posts generate more engagement and more so for mainstream media than for alternative media outlets. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Communication about COVID-19 in India: Corpus-Assisted Discourse Analysis of Mainstream News Reports about India’s Wave I and Wave II Outbreaks

by Huiling Ding and Manushri Pandya

Journal. Media 2023, 4(3), 802-819; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4030050 - 18 Jul 2023

Viewed by 2261

Abstract

This study employed critical rhetorical analysis and corpus-assisted discourse analysis in analyzing the news coverage of India’s transition from Wave I to Wave II Focusing on news coverage from the Times of India, we examined how COVID-19 was constructed in the public [...] Read more.

This study employed critical rhetorical analysis and corpus-assisted discourse analysis in analyzing the news coverage of India’s transition from Wave I to Wave II Focusing on news coverage from the Times of India, we examined how COVID-19 was constructed in the public and technical spheres and how India’s COVID-19 risk communication was shaped by unique geopolitical, cultural, infrastructural, and material factors. Our analysis highlights the tendency to datify COVID as statistics and case numbers, which both dehumanizes the patients and caretakers while erasing human suffering. It also reveals the critical roles played by the geopolitical, socioeconomic, infrastructural, and material conditions in shaping the national and regional capacities to respond to such far-reaching crises. Last but not least, affect and trust play prominent roles in the public coping with emerging pandemics given the uncertainties on all fronts, and thus should be centrally highlighted and addressed in public policies. Full article

17 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Certainty in COVID-19 Reporting in Two Austrian Newspapers

by Johannes Scherling and Anouschka Foltz

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 530-546; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020033 - 13 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3165

Abstract

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, in many parts of the Global North, the public has looked to the media as an important source of information about new developments and measures to combat the spread of the virus. The main measure propagated [...] Read more.

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, in many parts of the Global North, the public has looked to the media as an important source of information about new developments and measures to combat the spread of the virus. The main measure propagated by governments in this respect was the mass vaccination program. In this context, two important concepts in the media coverage were herd immunity and vaccine efficacy, both of which had to be reevaluated over time. In this study, we looked at the discursive construction of “the science” in the discourse on herd immunity and vaccine efficacy in two Austrian broadsheet newspapers. Our corpus-based analysis showed a tendency to overuse linguistic items implying certainty in the face of a very fast-changing, and thus uncertain, situation. We also found evidence that these two Austrian media outlets no longer function as corrective of power, but have taken on the role of mediators of sanctioned government narratives. We argue that the uncritical reporting of government narratives in such a fluid situation has led to unresolved and unreflected inconsistencies in the reporting, arguably decreasing the public’s trust in the accuracy of the COVID-19 information presented in the media. Full article

18 pages, 3449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Conversation around COVID-19 on Twitter—Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modelling to Analyse Tweets Published in English during the First Wave of the Pandemic

by Javier J. Amores, David Blanco-Herrero and Carlos Arcila-Calderón

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 467-484; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020030 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2761

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted societies all over the world. In an interconnected and digital global society, social media was the platform not only to convey information and recommendations but also to discuss the pandemic and its consequences. Focusing on the phase of stabilization [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted societies all over the world. In an interconnected and digital global society, social media was the platform not only to convey information and recommendations but also to discuss the pandemic and its consequences. Focusing on the phase of stabilization during the first wave of the pandemic in Western countries, this work analyses the conversation around it through tweets in English. For that purpose, the authors have studied who the most active and influential accounts were, identified the most frequent words in the sample, conducted topic modelling, and researched the predominant sentiments. It was observed that the conversation followed two main lines: a more political and controversial one, which can be exemplified by the relevant presence of former US President Donald Trump, and a more informational one, mostly concerning recommendations to fight the virus, represented by the World Health Organization. In general, sentiments were predominantly neutral due to the abundance of information. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Feminist Politics on Tik Tok during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Content Analysis of the Hashtags #Feminismo and #Antifeminismo

by Rita Basílio Simões, Agda Dias Baeta and Bruno Frutuoso Costa

Journal. Media 2023, 4(1), 244-257; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4010017 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 9106

Abstract

In recent decades, marked by the supposedly universal access to different types of social media, we have seen the emergence of forms of popular feminism embedded in complex dynamics. Often cohabiting in these dynamics are ambivalent ideas and imaginaries that both reject and [...] Read more.

In recent decades, marked by the supposedly universal access to different types of social media, we have seen the emergence of forms of popular feminism embedded in complex dynamics. Often cohabiting in these dynamics are ambivalent ideas and imaginaries that both reject and express feminist issues. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital technologies increased exponentially to overcome mobility constraints, popularizing connective action around feminism and, at the same time, reinforcing normative views of society. This article explores these ambivalences by focusing on TikTok discourses, whose popularity grew intensely during the pandemic. Departing from a feminist constructionist perspective and using content analysis, we examine the 100 most prominent videos on the Portuguese hashtags #feminismo (#feminism) and #antifeminismo (#antifeminism) in the period corresponding to general containment measures in the second phase of the public health crisis. The results are less than encouraging. Over half of the analysed videos contain discursive dynamics conforming to social hierarchization (53%), often reaffirming gender stereotypes. By allowing forms of popular feminism and antifeminism to permeate the shared discourses, the results suggest that the platform gives rise to ideas and discourses that reify unbalanced power relations. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

2022

Jump to: 2025, 2024, 2023

17 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotions in Crisis Coverage: How UK News Media Used Fear Appeals to Report on the Coronavirus Crisis

by Valerie Hase and Katherine M. Engelke

Journal. Media 2022, 3(4), 633-649; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3040042 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5365

Abstract

During crises, journalists rely on emotional appeals to alert the public. This includes fear appeals, i.e., journalistic depictions of threats and measures against them. Focusing on the coronavirus crisis, this study analyzes the prevalence of fear appeals in journalistic news, differences between outlets, [...] Read more.

During crises, journalists rely on emotional appeals to alert the public. This includes fear appeals, i.e., journalistic depictions of threats and measures against them. Focusing on the coronavirus crisis, this study analyzes the prevalence of fear appeals in journalistic news, differences between outlets, and changes over time. It employs a manual content analysis of UK online news between January and May 2020 (N = 1048). Results indicate that, during the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic, journalists relied heavily on fear-inducing messages by emphasizing threats related to COVID-19 and, though to a lesser degree, measures against these threats. Besides differences between tabloids and quality outlets, we find that fear-inducing content decreased before the UK itself became most affected, indicating that coverage served a warning function rather than mirroring national affectedness. Overall, the study illustrates that fear appeals are common in coverage of crises, where they enable journalists to take on the role of public mobilizers and facilitators of crises response strategies, for instance by governments. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of the COVID-19 “Infodemic” on Journalistic Content and News Feed in Online and Offline Communication Spaces

by Ioanna Kostarella and Rigas Kotsakis

Journal. Media 2022, 3(3), 471-490; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030033 - 16 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5252

Abstract

The systematic coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by the Greek mass media began in February 2020, specifically, from the time the virus made its appearance in the most significant way in Italy. Until then, news about the virus had been sporadically visible depending [...] Read more.

The systematic coverage of the coronavirus pandemic by the Greek mass media began in February 2020, specifically, from the time the virus made its appearance in the most significant way in Italy. Until then, news about the virus had been sporadically visible depending mainly on news reports coming from the international media and press agencies. The assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic as an “infodemic” by the World Health Organization (WHO) made obvious the need to study media coverage and map its patterns, along with the unprecedented political and social response and the massive consequences on the global economy. Through a large content analysis, containing 7457 news items from 13 different media outlets, plus a comparative Twitter analysis of 36,317 tweets, we took the present situation as an opportunity to collect real-time data but also as a point of departure for addressing issues connected to journalistic practices and technological changes in the framework of COVID-19. According to our findings, the Greek media faced the crisis “with a view to the world”, emphasizing international coverage, giving priority to the authorities and scientists, and keeping (at least in their majority) hoaxes and conspiracy theories out of the agenda. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 433 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Health Information on COVID-19 Vaccination: Readability of Online Sources and Newspapers in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines

by Hiroko Costantini and Rie Fuse

Journal. Media 2022, 3(1), 228-237; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3010017 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3559

Abstract

To address the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other infectious diseases, a key intervention is vaccination. Health communications are thus of vital importance for informing the public on the benefits and risks of vaccines. This in turn makes the readability of media content fundamental. [...] Read more.

To address the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other infectious diseases, a key intervention is vaccination. Health communications are thus of vital importance for informing the public on the benefits and risks of vaccines. This in turn makes the readability of media content fundamental. Previous studies of COVID-19-related information have found the readability of online information considerably more difficult than recommended. However, studies on the readability of information related to COVID-19 vaccination in Asian contexts have yet to be carried out. Furthermore, especially in the case of the current pandemic, health information is communicated by a variety of information channels, including the internet and mass media. This paper investigates the readability of textual information on COVID-19 vaccination found online and in newspaper articles in parts of Asia where English is one of the main languages, namely Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Readability was assessed using a set of readability tests (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Grade level). It was found that a low proportion of URLs scored within recommended readability thresholds, and did so consistently across locations and types of sources. Furthermore, a relatively low proportion of web searches returned information from local sources; most URLs linked to sources outside of Singapore, Hong Kong, or the Philippines. Further, local online and newspaper sources scored similarly poorly on readability on average compared to non-local sources. Understanding of fast-evolving health communications concerning COVID-19 vaccination encompasses information about vaccine development and deployment from other locations, as well as locally. Nevertheless, these findings indicated a fairly low proportion of local sources among the top search results, and relatively low (i.e., difficult-to-read) readability scores for top search results and for local newspapers. An important issue for health communications strategies addressing COVID-19 vaccination will therefore be to consider different types of media sources in order to achieve the right mix of local and non-local sources while also ensuring appropriate readability. Full article

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Role of Media and Journalism during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges

Share This Topical Collection

Editor

Topical Collection Information

Keywords

Published Papers (13 papers)

2025

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2022

2024

Jump to: 2025, 2023, 2022

2023

Jump to: 2025, 2024, 2022

2022

Jump to: 2025, 2024, 2023

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI