Sei-Hill Kim

Talking about Obesity: News Framing of Who Is Responsible for Causing and Fixing the Problem

Analyzing newspaper articles and television news, we explore how American news media have framed the issue of obesity. More specifically, we analyze the way the media present the question of who is responsible for causing and fixing the problem. Our data reveal that over the last 10 years, mentions of personal causes and solutions significantly have outnumbered societal attributions of responsibility. Recently, however, a balance was established between individualistic and societal attributions of responsibility. Mentions of societal causes and solutions have increased considerably, whereas decreasing numbers of personal solutions have appeared in the media. Findings also indicate that television news is more likely than newspapers to mention personal solutions, but less likely to attribute the responsibility to society.

Media Use, Social Capital, and Civic Participation in South Korea

Analyzing data from a telephone survey (N = 527), this study examines the interplay of social capital and media use in affecting civic life in South Korea. Two individual-level indicators of social capital (interpersonal trust and informal socializing) were both positively associated with civic participation. Use of the Internet for entertainment had positive relationships with both interpersonal trust and informal socializing, indicating that the Internet might enhance the production of social capital. Findings also supported the idea that different patterns of media use might either foster or undermine civic engagement.

Media Use and Participatory Democracy in South Korea

Analyzing data from a telephone survey of South Korean respondents, this study explored facilitating and inhibiting effects of mass media use on political participation. It was hypothesized that the facilitating or inhibiting effect is dependent on the specific types of content presented by the media. Consistent with previous findings from the United States, our data supported the idea that news media use plays an important role in motivating participatory behaviors. Contrary to this procivic role, however, we found that viewing entertainment television programs may undermine such behaviors. This study also examined in detail the mechanism through which the media may have effects on different forms of political participation.

Talking About Genetically Modified (GM) Foods in South Korea: The Role of the Internet in the Spiral of Silence Process

Using the issue of genetically modified foods, this study examines how the Internet may affect the spiral of silence phenomenon in South Korea. More specifically, we explore whether the Internet has created a social environment, where people can exchange opinions more freely without being fearful of social isolation. Analyzing data from an online survey, we first examine whether the Internet can play a role as a source of information, from which people assess the climates of public opinion. Also examined is whether the opinions of netizens can comprise another form of opinion climate, exerting pressure on ones willingness to speak out. Finally, we explore whether expressing an opinion on the Internet is subject to the pressure of opinion climates. Findings suggest that the Internet may play an important role in shaping peoples perceptions of opinion climates. Perceived opinion congruence with other people were significantly associated with ones willingness to participate in an online forum, indicating that expressing an opinion on the Internet may be subject to the spiral of silence effect. We conclude that the Internet in South Korea may not have helped to diminish the social pressure that keeps citizens from expressing a minority view.

Pathways to support genetically modified (GM) foods in South Korea: Deliberate reasoning, information shortcuts, and the role of formal education

Analyzing survey data on the issue of GM foods in South Korea, this study examines two competing routes – deliberate reasoning versus information shortcuts – to forming opinions on controversial science. Findings indicated that both deliberate reasoning and information shortcuts were in play; but the process was moderated by a person’s education level. The well educated were more likely than the less educated to engage in deliberate reasoning when shaping their support for GM foods. Implications of the findings are discussed in detail.

Talking about bio-fuel in the news: Newspaper framing of ethanol stories in the United States

This study offers an analysis of news framing of ethanol stories, examining several key dimensions of framing. A content analysis of six national and regional newspapers indicates that ethanol has been presented largely as a policy issue, rather than a technology or an economic issue. We also found that the environment has been the key talking point in debating the issue. Overall, the story tone has become increasingly negative over the years. Drawing upon the notion of frame building, this study also explores some of the factors that may affect the medias selective use of frames.

News photos of scientists skew race but not gender

This analysis of the photographs of scientists published in The Science Times, the weekly science section of The New York Times, shows the actual gender distribution among U.S. scientists was accurately represented in the newspaper. A race gap, however, still exists, with non-white scientists being significantly underrepresented. The analysis of visual framing indicates The Science Times portrays scientists as expert professionals.

TV News Framing Supports Societal Poverty Solutions

An analysis of television and newspaper coverage of poverty indicates that coverage has focused largely on societal-level, as opposed to individual causes and solutions. Television news viewing was positively associated with viewers perceived government responsibility for solving problems.

Understanding emotional bond between the creator and the avatar

This study examines the joint impact of an individuals relationship with his or her avatar and negative consequences to the avatar on changing the individuals behavioral intentions (BI) in terms of alcohol-impaired driving. One hundred eleven participants volunteered to participate in several experimental conditions where the degree of choice of avatar features and the degree of control of the avatars actions were manipulated in Second Life, an immersive 3D virtual environment. Participants who were allowed to customize their avatars viewed their avatars not only more similar but also emotionally closer to themselves, and perceived their avatars to be physically more attractive than those who were assigned basic avatars. After observing a car crash caused by drunk driving, participants in the choice and control condition were more likely to change BI positively when they identified their avatars to be similar to themselves, and regarded their avatars more attractive. Furthermore, participants who were allowed to control their avatars were more likely to attribute the responsibility of the car accident to themselves than those who observed someone elses avatar playing. Implications for the use of virtual reality games in promoting healthy behaviors are discussed in detail. Combining social-development psychology and communication research.Investigating the potential of using VR technologies in health-related areas.Having an individualized avatar may enhance the emotional tie between the creator and the avatar.An option to control an avatar takes greater responsibility for what happened to the avatar.