Your browser does not support the PubReader view.
Go to this page to see a list of supporting browsers.
The Korean Society for Journalism & Communication (KSJCS)
[ Article ]
Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies - Vol. 67, No. 4, pp.272-302
ISSN: 2586-7369 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Aug 2023
Received 14 Apr 2023 Revised 13 Jul 2023 Accepted 01 Aug 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2023.67.4.008

코로나19 뉴스 기사의 품질에 대한 탐색적 분석 : 국내 주요 종합 일간지 및 방송사 기사 내용분석

이호근** ; 허세영*** ; 신지은**** ; 양윤주***** ; 김인오****** ; 조경원******* ; 김현석********
**서울대학교 언론정보학과 석사과정 lhk4274@snu.ac.kr
***서울대학교 언론정보학과 석사과정 seyoung723@snu.ac.kr
****서울대학교 언론정보학과 석사과정 humpo11@snu.ac.kr
*****서울대학교 언론정보학과 석사과정 snujuju@snu.ac.kr
******서울대학교 언론정보학과 석사과정 inno.k@snu.ac.kr
*******서울대학교 언론정보학과 박사과정 kwcho6@snu.ac.kr
********서울대학교 언론정보학과 부교수 hyunsuk.kim@snu.ac.kr
An Exploratory Analysis of the Quality of COVID-19 News Articles : A Content Analysis of Major Daily Newspapers and Broadcasters in South Korea
Ho Geun Lee** ; Seyoung Huh*** ; Jieun Shin**** ; Yoon Ju Yang***** ; Inno Kim****** ; Kyung Won Cho******* ; Hyun Suk Kim********
**Master’s Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University lhk4274@snu.ac.kr
***Master’s Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University seyoung723@snu.ac.kr
****Master’s Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University humpo11@snu.ac.kr
*****Master’s Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University snujuju@snu.ac.kr
******Master’s Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University inno.k@snu.ac.kr
*******Doctoral Student, Department of Communication, Seoul National University kwcho6@snu.ac.kr
********Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Seoul National University, corresponding author hyunsuk.kim@snu.ac.kr

초록

본 연구는 코로나19 뉴스 기사에 대한 내용분석을 통해 국내 언론의 코로나19 관련 보도가 이른바 ‘좋은 저널리즘(quality journalism)’의 일반적인 기준과 감염병 보도에 특수하게 요구되는 윤리 규범에 비추어 어떠했는지 살펴봤다. 2019년 12월 31일부터 2022년 5월 9일까지의 기간 동안 14개 언론사(전국 종합 일간지 10곳, 방송사 4곳)에서 보도한 코로나19 관련 뉴스 기사 934개를 수집, (가) 취재원의 양과 투명성, (나) 관점 다양성 및 분석 중심성, (다) 한국 언론의 부정적 관행, (라) 한국기자협회 등이 제정한 <감염병 보도준칙> 관련 변인에 초점을 맞추어 내용분석을 실시했다. 그런 다음, 선행 연구(김경모 등, 2018)에서 분석한 국내 전국 종합 일간지 10곳 및 주요 선진국의 대표 일간지 3곳(예: 뉴욕 타임스) 1면 기사와 비교했다(<감염병 보도준칙> 관련 변인 제외). 연구 결과, 코로나19 기사에 사용된 취재원의 양과 투명성은 대체로 국내 주요 일간지 1면 기사와 비슷했고, 해외 대표 일간지의 1면 기사에 비해서는 적은(낮은) 편이었다. 또한 대부분 관점을 제시하지 않거나 제시하더라도 하나의 관점만을 다루었으며, 사안을 심층적으로 분석하기보다는 단순 사실 정보 전달에 집중한 것으로 나타나, 코로나19 기사는 관점의 다양성 및 분석 중심성 측면에서도 국내 주요 일간지 1면 기사와는 비슷하고 해외 주요 일간지 1면 기사보다는 낮은 경향을 보였다. 제목에서의 직접 인용구 사용 등 한국 언론의 부정적 기사 작성 관행 역시 국내 주요 일간지 1면 기사와 비슷한 정도로 발견되었으며, 해외 주요 일간지 1면 기사보다는 다소 더 두드러졌다. <감염병 보도준칙>과 관련해서는, 코로나19에 대한 효능감 정보를 제공하는 기사의 비중이 점차 증가하는 추세를 보이긴 하지만, 전반적으로 위협 정보만을 제시하는 경우가 더 많았으며, 위협 정보를 제시할 때 효능감 정보를 함께 제시한 경우는 드물었다. 마지막으로, 적지 않은 수의 기사가 확진자 신상 관련 정보를 노출하거나 자극적인 표현을 사용한 것으로 나타났다. 연구결과가 한국 언론의 기사의 품질, 특히 팬데믹과 같은 위기 상황에서의 기사의 품질에 대해 갖는 함의를 논의했으며, 관련 후속 연구 방향을 제안했다.

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the extent to which news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea adhered to the standards of "quality journalism." Additionally, the study aimed to gauge compliance with the ethical norms required when reporting on infectious diseases. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a content analysis of 934 COVID-19 news articles, published between December 31, 2019, and May 9, 2022, by 14 media outlets, including 10 national daily newspapers and four national television stations. Our content analysis focused on four main areas: (a) the quantity and transparency of sources used in the articles, (b) the diversity of perspectives represented and analysis-centered (vs. event-centered) coverage, (c) problematic practices in Korean journalism, and (d) alignment with the infectious disease reporting guidelines (IDRG) established by three Korean journalist associations. To contextualize our findings, we compared them (excluding those related to IDRG) with a previous study that analyzed front-page articles from the same Korean national daily newspapers and three internationally renowned foreign newspapers (The New York Times, The Times, The Asahi Shimbun). The results indicated that while the number and transparency of sources in COVID-19 news articles were similar to those in the front-page articles of the Korean newspapers, they fell short when compared to the foreign newspapers. The Korean newspapers’ COVID-19 articles showed similar levels of perspective diversity and coverage depth as their front-page articles. However, they lacked the depth that the foreign newspapers exhibited. Most articles either did not adopt a particular perspective or, when they did, typically offered a single perspective. Furthermore, the majority of articles were event-centered, focusing their reporting on individual cases and conveying information in a straightforward manner. Problematic practices in Korean journalism, such as using direct quotations in headlines, were similar to those found in the front-page articles of the Korean newspapers and were more prevalent than in the foreign newspapers. Although the number of articles providing efficacy information related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment increased over time, a significant number of articles focused solely on threat information, with few presenting efficacy information alongside threat information. Lastly, a sizable portion of the articles disclosed personal information of individuals confirmed to have COVID-19, while another sizable, yet distinct, proportion utilized sensational language. The implications of these findings were discussed, illuminating the current state of the quality of journalism in South Korea, particularly during crisis situations such as a pandemic, and providing directions for future research in the field.

Keywords:

COVID-19, News, Content Analysis, Quality Journalism, Journalistic Ethics and Standards

키워드:

코로나19, 뉴스, 내용분석, 기사의 품질, 보도 윤리와 규범

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF-2021S1A3A2A02090597)(이 논문은 2021년 대한민국 교육부와 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구임(NRF-2021S1A3A2A02090597)).

References

  • Anderson, P. J. (2014). Defining and measuring quality news journalism. In P. J. Anderson, G. Ogola, & W. Michael (Eds.), The future of quality news journalism (pp. 7-34). New York, NY: Routledge. [https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203382707]
  • Barnhurst, K., & Mutz, D. (1997). American journalism and the decline in event-centered reporting. Journal of Communication, 47(4), 27-53. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1997.tb02724.x]
  • Bigsby, E., & Albarracín, D. (2022). Self- and response efficacy information in fear appeals: A meta-analysis. Journal of Communication, 72(2), 241-263. [https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqab048]
  • Chong, E. R., Choi, J. S., & Park, Y. (2020). An exploratory study on the differences between fact-checking and explanatory news on COVID-19: Focusing on contextuality and transparency. Journal of Cybercommunication Academic Society, 37(3), 139-193. [정은령·최지수·박유진 (2020). 코로나19 팩트체크 기사와 해설 기사의 차이에 대한 탐색적 연구: 맥락성과 투명성을 중심으로. <사이버커뮤니케이션학보>, 37권 3호, 139-193.] [https://doi.org/10.36494/JCAS.2020.09.37.3.139]
  • Chosun ilbo. (2017). Chosun ilbo ethical guidelines. Retrieved 4/13/23 from https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/12/26/2017122601251.html, [조선일보 (2017). <조선일보 윤리규범 가이드라인>.]
  • Ham, S., Kim, H., Kim, Y. (2021). A big-data analysis of media coverage on COVID-19 : Topic modeling and semantic network analyses by issue cycle and political orientation. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 65(1), 148-189. [함승경·김혜정·김영욱 (2021). 코로나19 언론보도 경향에 대한 빅데이터 분석 : 이슈 주기 및 언론사 정치적 지향에 따른 주제 분석과 언어 네트워크 분석 적용. <한국언론학보>, 65권 1호, 148-189.] [https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2021.65.1.148]
  • Hankyoreh. (2020). Hankyoreh-media reporting guidelines. Retrieved 4/13/23 from https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/media/944867.html, [한겨레 (2020). <한겨레미디어 취재보도준칙>.]
  • Hart, P. S., & Feldman, L. (2014). Threat without efficacy? Climate change on U.S. network news. Science Communication, 36(3), 325-351. [https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547013520239]
  • International Federation of Journalists. (2021, January 21). Guidelines for reporting on Covid-19 vaccines. Retrieved 4/13/23 from https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/guidesmanuals/article/guidelines-for-reporting-on-covid-19-vaccines.html
  • International Media Support. (2020, April 3). IMS Covid-19 task force: Guidelines for reporting on Covid-19. Retrieved 4/14/23 from https://www.mediasupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMS-guide-for-reporting-on-Covid-19.pdf
  • Journalists Association of Korea. (2020). Infectious disease reporting guidelines. Retrieved 4/13/23 from https://www.journalist.or.kr/news/section4.html?p_num=17, [한국기자협회 (2020). <감염병 보도준칙>.]
  • Kim, G. (2022). South Korea’s unique tracing measures against COVID-19: Evaluation of legislation in terms of good law. Korean Journal of Law & Society, 71, 197-226. [김지현 (2022). 우리나라 고유의 코로나19 위기 대응조치에 대한 입법론적 개선방안: 확진자 동선 공개를 중심으로. <법과 사회>, 71권, 197-226.] [https://doi.org/10.33446/KJLS.71.6]
  • Kim, K., Park, J. Y., Bae, J. G., Lee, N. Y., & Lee, J. G. (2018). Quality journalism. Seoul: Ewha Womans University Press. [김경모·박재영·배정근·이나연·이재경 (2018). <기사의 품질: 한국 일간지와 해외 유력지 비교연구>. 서울: 이화여자대학교 출판문화원.]
  • Korea Press Foundation. (2022). Media users in Korea 2022. Seoul: Korea Press Foundation. [한국언론진흥재단 (2022). <2022 언론수용자 조사>. 서울: 한국언론진흥재단.]
  • Kovach, B., & Rosenstiel, T. (2021). The elements of journalism: What news people should know and the public should expect (4th ed.). New York, NY: Crown. 이재경(역)(2021). <저널리즘의 기본 원칙>. 서울: 한국언론진흥재단.
  • Krippendorff, K. (2019). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071878781]
  • Lacy, S., & Rosenstiel, T. (2015). Defining and measuring quality journalism. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers School of Communication and Information.
  • Lee, N. Y. (2018). Scientific objectivity, formal objectivity, Korean formal objectivity : Comparative analysis of news sources and quotations used in Korean newspapers and New York Times and The Times of London. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 62(2), 112-142. [이나연 (2018). 과학적 객관주의, 형식적 객관주의, 한국형 형식적 객관주의. <한국언론학보>, 62권 2호, 112-142.] [https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2018.62.2.004]
  • Lee, N. Y., Kim, C., & Kim, J. (2021). A study on the journalism practice of anonymous news sources of political news : A comparative analysis of Korean newspapers and the New York Times. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 65(3), 5-38. [이나연·김창숙·김지현 (2021). 정치기사 익명 취재원 표기 관행: 미국 뉴욕타임스와 한국 주요 일간지 비교 연구. <한국언론학보>, 65권 3호. 5-38.] [https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2021.65.3.001]
  • Ministry of Health and Welfare. (2016). The 2015 MERS outbreak in the Republic of Korea: Learning from MERS. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare. [보건복지부 (2016). <2015 메르스 백서: 메르스로부터 교훈을 얻다!>. 세종: 보건복지부.]
  • Ng, Y.-L., & Zhao, X. (2020). The human alarm system for sensational news, online news headlines, and associated generic digital footprints: A uses and gratifications approach. Communication Research, 47(2), 251-275. [https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650218793739]
  • Park, J. H. (2020). A comparative study on the 'Corona19' news frame based on ideological orientation of media. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 64(4), 40-85. [박주현 (2020). 언론의 이념성향에 따른 ‘코로나19’ 보도 프레임 비교 연구. <한국언론학보>, 64권 4호, 40-85.] [https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2020.64.4.002]
  • Pew Research Center. (2005). State of the news media. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
  • Sternadori, M. M., & Thorson, E. (2009) Anonymous sources harm credibility of all stories. Newspaper Research Journal, 30(4), 54-66. [https://doi.org/10.1177/073953290903000405]
  • Witte, K. (1992). Putting the fear back into fear appeals: The extended parallel process model. Communication Monographs, 59(4), 329-349. [https://doi.org/10.1080/03637759209376276]