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. 6, pp.256-297
ISSN: 2586-7369 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Dec 2023
Received 12 Apr 2023 Accepted 22 Nov 2023 Revised 27 Nov 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2023.67.6.008

저인지(低認知) 과학저널리즘과 관행적 뉴스 담론 : 포항지진과 지열발전에 대한 보도를 중심으로

주재원** ; 김창욱***
**한동대학교 커뮤니케이션학부 부교수 jwjoo@handong.edu
***한동대학교 글로벌리더십학부 부교수 ricky147@handong.edu
Hypocognitive Science Journalism and Conventional News Discourse : Focusing on the Reports of the Pohang Earthquake and Geothermal Energy
Jaewon Joo** ; Changwook Kim***
**Associate Professor, School of Communication, Handong Global University, first author jwjoo@handong.edu
***Associate Professor of Sociology, Global Leadership School, Handong Global University, corresponding author ricky147@handong.edu

초록

2017년 11월 15일, 포항에서 지열발전소의 물주입에 의한 촉발 지진으로 진도 5.4의 지진이 발생했다. 포항지진 이전 한국사회는 지열발전소가 지진을 촉발할 수 있다는 위험성에 대해 심각하게 인지하지 못했다. 이 연구는 지열발전에 관한 한국 사회의 위험인지 부재를 ‘저인지(低認知, Hypocognition)’로 명명하고, 이 현상과 한국언론의 지열발전에 대한 관행적 뉴스 담론의 관계를 탐구하였다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 1957년 7월부터 2019년 12월까지 총 7개 주요 언론사들 - <경향신문>, <국민일보>, <동아일보>, <조선일보>, <한겨레>, <한국일보>, <매일경제> - 의 기사를 분석했다. 분석 결과 한국언론은 지열발전에 대한 논의가 장시간 지속적으로 축적되어 이루어지기보다, 지진이라는 센세이셔널한 이벤트를 중심으로 생산되는 과학저널리즘의 ‘사건 기사화’ 양상을 띄고 있었다. 또한 한국 과학저널리즘의 문제로 지적되어온 받아쓰기 보도 관행, 전문성을 결여한 과학저널리즘, 그리고 정파성에 근거한 보도 관행 역시 발견되었다. 이러한 관행적 뉴스담론은 지열발전이라는 과학기술에 대해 균형 잡힌 정보를 공중에게 제공하지 못했고, 이로 인해 지열발전에 대한 사회적 담론은 거의 부재했다. 이러한 분석에 따라 본 연구는 지열발전에 대한 한국의 과학저널리즘에는 ‘과학’도 ‘저널리즘’도 부재하다는 사실을 결론으로 제시하였다.

Abstract

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake triggered by a geothermal power plant occurred in Pohang city, South Korea in 2017. Before the earthquake, Pohang and Korean society were unaware of the risks associated with geothermal energy. Based on the concept of ‘hypocognition’, this study explores the relationship between this lack of risk perception at the social level and the conventional news discourse on geothermal energy in the Korean news media. This study analyzes news articles from seven major newspapers from July 1957 to December 2019 and shows that the Korean news media tends to report on geothermal energy by focusing on sensational events such as earthquakes rather than continuously discussing geothermal energy for a long period. Using a combination of media news frame analysis and critical discourse analysis, it is demonstrated that, prior to the Pohang earthquake, Korean media coverage on geothermal energy consisted of: 1) economic effectiveness of geothermal power as an alternative energy source (economy frame), 2) scientific and technological advantages of geothermal power and differences from existing energy sources (science and technology frame), 3) environmental sustainability of geothermal energy (environment frame), and 4) the way to develop geothermal power from an energy policy perspective (politics frame). However, after the Pohang earthquake, the Korean media's news frame on geothermal energy shifted toward the cause of the earthquake triggered by the geothermal power plant (science and technology frame), compensation for earthquake damages to citizens, and the controversy over who was responsible for the earthquake (politics frame). Due to this news frame shift, news reports emphasizing the economic benefits of geothermal energy as an alternative energy source, as well as its eco-friendliness, are decreasing. To put it simply, the Korean media discourse on geothermal energy changed from ‘geothermal energy as economic and eco-friendly science and technology’ to ‘geothermal energy as a problematic science technology that causes earthquakes and creates a political dispute regarding who is responsible for the earthquake’ before and after the Pohang earthquake. It is noteworthy that, prior to and even after the earthquake, media reports regarding geothermal energy still rarely include frames on ‘morality/ethics’, ‘scientific/technical uncertainty’, and ‘uncontrollability’ that can arise when certain sciences and technologies are introduced socially. It is doubtful that geothermal power plants could have been installed so easily in regions susceptible to earthquakes if these aspects of social discussion existed in the media frame. Accordingly, Korean society was in a ‘hypocognition’ state, in which the absence of systems of frames relating to the potential problems associated with geothermal energy, and the insufficient and biased reporting of geothermal energy by the Korean media, contributed greatly to this social hypocognition. In addition, this study illustrates that chronic journalistic malpractices in Korean science journalism, including ‘He said/She said journalism’, ‘science journalism lacking professionalism’, and ‘partisan reporting practices’, are also prevalent in geothermal energy reports. By analyzing media discourse as well as journalistic practices on reporting geothermal power, this research ultimately argues that there was neither ‘science’ nor ‘journalism’ in Korean science journalism.

Keywords:

Hypocognition, Geothermal Energy, Pohang Earthquake, Science Journalism, Journalistic Malpractice

키워드:

저인지, 지열발전, 포항지진, 과학저널리즘, 언론 관행

Acknowledgments

This study is based on a presentation that was delivered at the Korean Association For Communication And Information Studies (KACIS) Annual Conference in November 2022. This study was conducted with the support of the '11.15 Earthquake Geothermal Power Research Group' of Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. We would like to thank Isaac Im and Minseon Shin for their assistance with the research(이 논문은 2022년 한국언론정보학회 가을철학술대회에서 발표한 발제문을 수정 및 보완한 결과물입니다. 본 연구는 경상북도 포항시 ‘11.15 지진 지열발전 공동연구단’의 지원을 받아 수행되었습니다. 연구 과정에서 도움을 준 임이삭, 신민선에게 감사를 전합니다).

References

  • Bourdieu, P. (2001). Masculine domination. Stanford University Press.
  • Choi, H. J. (2010). A study on the diversity of Korean newspapers : Analyzing the tendencies of covering three major issues. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 54(3), 399-426.
    최현주 (2010). 한국 신문 보도의 이념적 다양성에 대한 고찰: 6개 종합일간지의 3개 주요 이슈에 대한 보도 성향 분석을 중심으로. <한국언론학보>, 54권 3호, 339-426.
  • Choi, J. H., Kwak, E., & Han, D. S. (2016). A comparative study on the uses of news sources between national and local journalism : An analysis of the coverage of the South Korean nuclear scandal. Journal of Communication Science, 16(2), 214-241.
    최진호·곽은아·한동섭 (2016). 전국언론과 지역언론의 취재원 활용 관행 비교 연구: ‘원전 마피아 사건’ 보도 분석을 중심으로. <언론과학연구>, 16(2), 214-241. [ https://doi.org/10.14696/jcs.2016.06.16.2.214 ]
  • Choi, Y. (2016). How do we deal with nuclear energy issues? : A comparative analysis between press releases and newspaper articles. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 60(1), 229-262.
    최윤정 (2016). 우리는 평소 원자력 안전 이슈를 어떻게 다루는가?: 보도 자료와 언론 보도 비교를 통한 ‘원자력 안전 현실’ 탐색. <한국언론학보>, 60권 1호, 229-262. [ https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2016.60.1.008 ]
  • Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43, 51-58. [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x]
  • Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical discourse analysis. London: Longman.
  • Fairclough, N. (2003). Analysing discourse: Textual analysis for social research. London: Routlege. [https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203697078]
  • Fiske, J. (1987). Television culture. London: Routledge.
  • Gamson, W. A., & Modigliani, A. (1989). Media discourse and public opinion on nuclear power: A constructionist approach. American Journal of Sociology, 95(1), 1-37. [https://doi.org/10.1086/229213]
  • Han, J. (2018) Semantic network analysis of news articles on nos. 5 and 6 Shin-gori public deliberation : Focusing on Hankyoreh and Chosun-Ilbo. ECO, 22(2), 145-175.
    한준 (2018). 신고리 5 6호기 공론화 언론보도에 대한 언어 네트워크 분석 <한겨레>, <조선일보>를 중심으로. <환경사회학연구>, 22권 2호, 145-175.
  • Joo, J. (2018). Nuclear power as a socio-technical imaginary and media discourse - Focusing on the news coverage from the liberation to democratization. Korean Journal of Communication & Information, 89, 81-118.
    주재원 (2018). 사회기술적 상상체로서의 원자력과 미디어 담론. <한국언론정보학보>, 89호, 81-118. [ https://doi.org/10.46407/kjci.2018.06.89.81 ]
  • Joo, J., & Na, B. (2009). A study on discourse of new media represented by old media - Focusing on newspaper articles about TV and Internet. Media & Society, 17(2), 2-48.
    주재원·나보라 (2009). 올드미디어는 뉴미디어를 어떻게 재현하는가?-텔레비전과 인터넷 관련 신문 보도를 중심으로. <언론과 사회>, 17권 2호, 2-47.
  • Kim, H. (1998). A sociological essay on the democratization of science and technology. Paper presented at the Conference Publication of Korean Sociological Association, 352-362.
    김환석 (1998). <과학기술 민주화에 대한 사회학적 시론>. 한국사회학회 사회학대회 논문집, 352-362.
  • Kim, J. (2006). Special issue : Analysing Hwang scandal to the root science as multiple social phenomena and Hwang Woo Suk as a techno-scientific alliance. Critical Review of History, 82-114.
    김종영 (2006). [특집 - 과학기술학(STS)자들이 ‘황우석 사건’을 본격 분석하다] 복합 사회현상으로서의 과학과 과학기술복합동맹으로서의 황우석. <역사비평>, 82-114.
  • Kim, K. H., Ree, J. H., Kim, Y. H., Kim, S., Kang, S. Y., & Seo, W. (2018). Assessing whether the 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake in South Korea was an induced event. Science, 360, 1007-1009. [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat6081]
  • Kim, W. Y., & Lee, D. H. (2005). A study on the news frame model : A frame analysis of the domestic nuclear news. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 49(6), 166-197.
    김원용·이동훈 (2005). 언론보도의 프레임 유형화 연구: 국내 원자력관련 신문보도를 중심으로. <한국언론학보>, 49권 6호, 166-197.
  • Kim, Y. (2011). The crisis of the political factionalism and social communication in the Korean journalism. Paper presented at the Symposium publication of Korean Society for Journalism & Communication Studies - Communication Crisis in Korean Society: Diagnostics and Prospects. 107-136.
    김영욱 (2011). <한국 언론의 정파성과 사회적 소통의 위기>. 한국언론학회 심포지움 및 세미나 - 한국 사회의 소통 위기: 진단과 전망, 107-136.
  • Lackoff, G. (2010) Why it matters how we frame the environment. Environmental Communication, 4(1), 70-81. [https://doi.org/10.1080/17524030903529749]
  • Lee, J. (2016). Humidifier disinfectant disaster, media coverage: Victims of Breathtaking, did scientific journalism work? The Conference Publication of Korean Association for Environmental Sociology, 69-158.
    이정훈 (2016). 가습기 살균제 참사, 언론보도에 대한 고찰: 숨을 빼앗긴 피해자들, 과학저널리즘은 작동했는가? <한국환경사회학회 학술대회 자료집>, 한국환경사회학회 가을학술대회, 69-158.
  • Nisbet, M. C., & Scheufele, D. A. (2009). What's next for science communication? Promising directions and lingering distractions. American Journal of Botany, 96(10), 1767-1778. [https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.0900041]
  • Park, J., Lee, H., & Han, D. S. (2014). A comparative analysis of news frames across different media outlets : News coverage of the blackout accident at the nuclear power plant in Gori. Journal of Communication Science, 14(2), 31-74.
    박진우·이형민·한동섭 (2014). 고리 원자력 발전소 블랙아웃 사고에 대한 매체별 보도 프레임 분석. <언론과학연구>, 14권 2호, 31-74. [ https://doi.org/10.14696/jcs.2014.06.14.2.31 ]
  • Park, S. H. (2006). Frame analysis on risk reporting - Food safety reports from 1989 to 2005. Korean Journal of Communication & Information, 35, 181-210.
    박성희 (2006). 위험보도의 위기구축 기제 프레임 분석: 식품안전 보도를 중심으로. <한국언론정보학보>, 35호, 181-210.
  • Rhee, J. W. (2000). Frame, interpretation and communication effect. Media & Society, 29, 85-153.
    이준웅 (2000). 프레임, 해석 그리고 커뮤니케이션 효과. <언론과 사회>, 29호, 85-153.
  • Rhee, J. W., Yang, S. M., Kim, K. C., & Song, H. J. (2007). Direct quotations in newspaper headlines in the coverage of the local election on May 31, 2006. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 51(3), 64-90.
    이준웅·양승목·김규찬·송현주 (2007). 기사 제목에 포함된 직접인용부호 사용의 문제점과 원인. <한국언론학보>, 51권 3호, 64-90.
  • Romanach, L., Carr-Cornish, S., & Muriuki, G. (2015). Societal acceptance of an emerging energy technology: How is geothermal energy portrayed in Australian media?. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 1143-1150. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.088]
  • Shim, E. J., & Kim, W. G. (2016). A study on the change of nuclear power plant news frame in Korean newspapers : Before and after Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. Korean Journal of Communication & Information, 76, 124-150.
    심은정·김위근 (2016). 우리나라 원전에 대한 신문 보도 프레임 변화 연구: 일본 후쿠시마 원전 사고 전후 비교. <한국언론정보학보>, 통권 76호, 124-150.
  • Shin, S. C. (2013). Unidentified flying objectivity : The rhetoric of pseudo-science in four major newspapers in Korea. Korean Journal of Communication & Information, 62, 244-263.
    신순철 (2013). 미확인비행물체(UFO)에 대한 우리나라 신문 보도의 특징: 과학저널리즘의 관점에서. <한국언론정보학보>, 62권, 244-263.
  • Shin, W. (2021). How do the regional newspapers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyungnam frame natural disasters?: A content analysis of disaster news coverage. Locality & Communication, 25(2), 49-77.
    신우열 (2021). 부·울·경 지역 주요 일간지의 기상재해 보도 분석. <지역과 커뮤니케이션>, 25권 2호, 49-77. [ https://doi.org/10.47020/JLC.2021.05.25.2.49 ]
  • Song, E. J., & Lee, G. (2014). Analysis of news coverage about president’s interference with electoral process : For the period from president Young Sam Kim to president Myung Bak Lee. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 58(3), 228-250.
    송은지·이건호 (2014). 대통령의 선거개입 이슈 보도: 김영삼-이명박 대통령 시기 신문과 정권의 정파성에 따른 뉴스 분석. <한국언론학보>, 58권 3호, 228-250.
  • Stauffacher, M., Muggli, N., Scolobig, A., & Moser, C. (2015). Framing deep geothermal energy in mass media: The case of Switzerland. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 98, 60-70. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.05.018]
  • van Dijk, T. (1998) ‘Opinions and ideologies in the press’. In A. Bell & P. Garrett (Eds.), Approaches to media discourse. Oxford: Blackwell.
  • Yang, K. X., & Lim, J. (2023). Structural topic modeling approaches to the topic and frame characteristics of China-related conservative, progressive, and moderate newspaper reports during COVID-19. Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies, 67(2), 153-205.
    양가희·임종섭 (2023). 코로나-19 시기 보수, 진보, 중도 신문의 중국 관련 보도의 주제와 프레임 특성에 관한 구조 토픽 모델링 접근. <한국언론학보>, 67권 2호, 153-205. [ https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2023.67.2.005 ]