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The Korean Society for Journalism & Communication (KSJCS)
[ Article ]
Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies - Vol. 67, No. 6, pp.87-114
ISSN: 2586-7369 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Dec 2023
Received 13 Oct 2023 Accepted 22 Nov 2023 Revised 24 Nov 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2023.67.6.003

언론 논리에 갇힌 기후위기

신우열***
***전남대학교 신문방송학과 조교수 wooyeolshin@gmail.com
Climate Journalism Inside Media Logic
Wooyeol Shin***
***Assistant Professor, Chonnam National University wooyeolshin@gmail.com

초록

이 연구의 목적은 직제와 편제 등의 언론사 시스템, 위계질서 등의 조직 문화, 체화된 사고방식 및 관행 등을 아우르는 언론 논리가 기후위기 뉴스 생산 과정에 작동하는 방식을 살펴보는 데에 있다. 이를 위해 이 연구는 한국의 기후위기 기자 15명을 2단계에 걸쳐 인터뷰하였다. 기후위기에 대한 경각심이 전 지구적으로 높아지면서 언론계는 기후위기를 새로운 보도 영역으로 주목하고 그에 맞는 저널리즘 인식론과 실천법을 개발하고 있다. 한국 언론도 소수이긴 하나 기후위기 전담팀을 설치하고, 웹사이트에 별도 섹션을 마련한 언론사가 생겨나는 등 기후위기 국면에서의 자기 역할을 찾아가고 있다. 그러나 이 연구는 한국 언론의 기존 취재 및 보도 방식, 뉴스룸 구조와 그에 따른 역할 인식이 기후 저널리즘을 별로 새로울 것 없는 무언가로 만들 가능성을 보여준다. 소수의 언론사에서 신설된 기후위기 전담팀은 정치부, 국제부 등 편집국 내 주류 부서가 금을 그어 놓은 영역을 침범하지 않는 선에서 자기 영역을 개척하고 있었다. 기후위기 기자들은 자기 필요를 증명하기 위해 과학과 외신을 정보원으로 삼아 기후위기에 대한 사실들을 발굴하여 대중에게 알기 쉽게 풀어서 설명하는 ‘해설자’ 역할을 수행하는 모습을 보였다. 그러나 이 역할 개발 과정이 형식적, 위계적 차원의 언론 논리에 의해 번번이 좌절되면서 기후위기 기자들은 스스로를 주변화하는 경향을 보였다. 분석 결과를 토대로, 이 연구는 한국 언론이 기후위기 시대에 걸맞는 변화를 지향하게 할 만한 능력이 기성 언론 논리에는 없다고 주장한다.

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of media logic on Korean climate journalism. The study interviews 15 climate journalists from 11 Korean media outlets. These interviewees consider the climate crisis as an emerging area for journalism and attempt to develop an alternative journalistic epistemology and practices appropriate for it. However, due to the overlapping influence of traditional journalistic practices, organizational culture and structure, and resulting role perceptions, the practices of climate journalism tend to become similar to established ones. The conventional methods of reporting and the organizational structures in newsrooms impede the progress of climate journalism. Although some news organizations categorize climate issues as part of the environmental realm, the interrelated nature of the challenge necessitates coverage across multiple departments. Nevertheless, the emphasis on autonomy and independence among these departments leads to fragmented and perhaps conflicting coverage of the same issue within a single media organization. The recently formed climate teams in select Korean news companies have built their own distinct domain without trespassing into the established bounds of mainstream departments inside the newsrooms. In order to demonstrate their credibility, climate journalists endeavor to maintain scientific rigor, depend on foreign news organizations as primary sources of information, and ultimately develop more interpretive journalism. Their reliance on scientific sources and foreign media stems from the belief that objectivity and originality acquired from academic journals and reputable foreign news outlets contribute to credibility within journalistic norms. Despite efforts to carve out a distinct space for climate journalism, these climate journalists often encounter obstacles within the formal and hierarchical structures of traditional media logic. As this boundary work inside newsrooms is hindered by established media logic, climate journalists tend to marginalize themselves. The quality and accuracy of climate reporting can be compromised by time constraints, editorial preferences, and the emphasis of experienced journalists over climate experts. According to these findings, this study contends that the institutional logic of Korean journalism lacks the capacity to drive journalism toward the necessary adjustments for the era of climate crisis. This study highlights the need to reassess the processes and structures involved in news production in order to effectively incorporate climate journalism. It emphasizes the responsibility of media organizations in promoting a journalistic approach that effectively tackles the intricacies of the climate problem. This study also proposes practical recommendations for Korean news organizations, including avoiding compartmentalized reporting practices, recognizing the importance of dedicated climate crisis teams, providing time for specialization, and developing a new journalism paradigm that transcends traditional structures.

Keywords:

Climate Journalism, Institutional Logic, Media Logic, Journalistic Practice, Climate Crisis

키워드:

기후 저널리즘, 제도 논리, 언론 논리, 언론 관행, 기후위기

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Chonnam National University(이 논문은 전남대학교 학술연구비지원에 의하여 연구되었음): 2023-0864

Part of the data used in this study was collected by the author in 2021 for the Korea Press Foundation's research paper titled “A study of Korean climate journalism.” The author would like to thank Drs. Min Jung Jin and Bong Hyun Lee who co-authored the research paper(이 논문은 2021 한국언론진흥재단 연구서 <국내 기후변화 보도의 현황과 개선 방안>를 위해 저자가 수집했던 자료를 일부 활용하였습니다. 해당 연구서를 공동 집필한 진민정 한국언론진흥재단 책임연구위원과 이봉현 한겨레경제사회연구원장에게 고마움을 전합니다).

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