Deliberating Issues or Discharging Feelings? A Closer Look at “Below-the-Line” Reader Comments on the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands Dispute

The study addresses a concern over the quality of online news reader comments. Specifically, it examines how online reader comments contribute to deliberation from cognitive and interactive perspectives. The results of content analyzing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the comments from an on...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jin Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2024-01-01
Series:Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2024-10-1-2-Yang.pdf
Description
Summary:The study addresses a concern over the quality of online news reader comments. Specifically, it examines how online reader comments contribute to deliberation from cognitive and interactive perspectives. The results of content analyzing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the comments from an online publication The Diplomat suggest that comments were mostly deliberative and serious, and they were more neutrally oriented than degrading in terms of feelings. There was some association between reasonings and feelings but not very strong. The study concludes that comment fields can be a good platform for participatory journalism and enrich deliberation on issues.
ISSN:2407-9499