Page 98 - Feasibility Study of New Media Technology on Constructing Online Public Sphere

Feasibility Study of New Media Technology
on Constructing Online Public Sphere

different media platforms’, the results can inform the transition of traditional media

and new media platform in the Sun Zhigang incident as it is situated in the initial stage
of new media in China. It also examines the existence of online public sphere and the
changing ‘public-government’ relationship with the emergence of new media.
In the survey of the Xiamen PX plant case, questions regarding ‘respondents’ at-
titudes and experience of the offline movement in the event’, it can inform the public’s

perception on both online and offline public participation, as well as the role of media
in promoting social campaign. While questions regarding respondents’ ‘judgement on
the substance of the event – PX plant’, the result can inform whether rational public

opinion can be formed in face of controversial topic. Questions regarding the respond-
ents’ view on ‘whether the government should guide public opinion’ can inform the
public’s perspective on ‘government-media’ relationship.
In the survey of the Yihuang case, questions regarding the respondents’ view on
‘how to react to the livelihood issue – house demolition and relocation’ can inform the

public’s awareness of using media to solve social issues and to safeguard their own
rights. It helps explore the ‘public-media’ relationship. Moreover, questions regarding
the respondents’ perception on ‘the Yihuang victims’ behaviour throughout the event’

can inform their ability in judging massive information and whether rational public
opinion can be formed in the cyberspace.
To summarise, the purpose of the questionnaire is to isolate ‘the public’ from the
triangular framework, focusing on how the public makes use of the social media prod-
ucts in large social events. Besides, these questionnaires were designed with various

detailed questions to reply the derivative problems brought by the related cases, which
could be treated as the supplement to restore the events. For example, respondents
provide information regarding the evolving public participation in different ICT devel-

opments which reflects technological empowerment. Also, exploratory questions in the
public opinion on these three typical cases from different areas indicate what kind of
public events or incidents can draw people’s long-term attention based on a thorough
demographic analysis.
Since participation is voluntary, it is reasonable to consider the possibility of se-

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