Public Response to Government Information on Weibo: Friction, Contestation, and Crisis Communication During the 2018 Shouguang Flood in China

Chen, Lixiong1; Xu, Nairui2

2023

10.46539/gmd.v5i3.388

GALACTICA MEDIA-JOURNAL OF MEDIA STUDIES - GALAKTIKA MEDIA-ZHURNAL MEDIA ISSLEDOVANIJ   Impact Factor & Quartile

2658-7734

Sina Weibo, a popular social media platform in China, plays a crucial role in crisis communication. During the 2018 Shouguang flood, the public criticized the government's delayed, insufficient, and inaccurate information on Weibo, leading to tension between the public and the government. We interviewed 33 Weibo users to understand their experiences in challenging the government's flood-related information. Key areas of contention included the timing of information release, the portrayal of the crisis, and the government's role as the primary crisis manager. When the government's information fails to meet public expectations, it can lead to online discussions that undermine trust. This article delves into theterritory of crisis communication by examining how public online debates evolve in a state-controlled online setting, specifically in China. We propose that diverse interpretations of crisis information serve as a tool to enhance collective crisis response, thereby reducing conflicts among stakeholders.

Sina Weibo Crisis Communication Trust Public Online Contestation Risk Governance Friction

ESCI

English

First

National Social Science Fund of China[20ZD152]

Communication

Communication

WOS:001085531000001

LTD CO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE GENESIS FRONTIER SCIENCE

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.Beijing Inst Graph Commun Beijing, Sch Publishing, Beijing, Peoples R China

Chen, Lixiong,Xu, Nairui. Public Response to Government Information on Weibo: Friction, Contestation, and Crisis Communication During the 2018 Shouguang Flood in China[J]. GALACTICA MEDIA-JOURNAL OF MEDIA STUDIES - GALAKTIKA MEDIA-ZHURNAL MEDIA ISSLEDOVANIJ,2023,5(3).

Chen, Lixiong,&Xu, Nairui.(2023).Public Response to Government Information on Weibo: Friction, Contestation, and Crisis Communication During the 2018 Shouguang Flood in China.GALACTICA MEDIA-JOURNAL OF MEDIA STUDIES - GALAKTIKA MEDIA-ZHURNAL MEDIA ISSLEDOVANIJ,5(3).

Chen, Lixiong,et al."Public Response to Government Information on Weibo: Friction, Contestation, and Crisis Communication During the 2018 Shouguang Flood in China".GALACTICA MEDIA-JOURNAL OF MEDIA STUDIES - GALAKTIKA MEDIA-ZHURNAL MEDIA ISSLEDOVANIJ 5.3(2023).