The Efficacy of Chinese News Coverage of Tobacco Control: A Comparison between Media Agenda and Policy Agenda

Authors

  • Di Zhang Renmin University of China
  • Baijing Hu Renmin University of China
  • Ruosi Shao Renmin University of China

Keywords:

tobacco control, China, news coverage, media advocacy, antismoking

Abstract

This study examines the news coverage of tobacco control in China between 2010 and 2012 and compares it with the China Tobacco Control Program (2012–2015), a recent national policy initiative. The study finds that the relative salience of second-level tobacco control issues in the media have a moderate positive association with the policy agenda. However, the news coverage of tobacco control was more consistent with the agenda of anti–tobacco control forces than with the agenda of pro-control forces. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Author Biographies

Di Zhang, Renmin University of China

Associate professor at School of Journalism and Communication

Baijing Hu, Renmin University of China

Professor at School of Journalism and Communication

Ruosi Shao, Renmin University of China

Graduate student at School of Journalism and Communication

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Published

2016-03-14

Issue

Vol. 10 (2016)

Section

Articles

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