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Media dependencies in a changing media environment: the case of the 2003 SARS epidemic in China

University of Kentucky, USA, ztai{at}uky.edu

Tao Sun

Plymouth State University, USA

This article investigates media dependency among Chinese individuals during the SARS epidemic of 2003. While most media dependency research has examined dependency relations under circumstances when information was readily available, this study looks at a situation in which information was highly controlled and thus was not easily available from the mainstream media. As the socio-structural environment was not conducive to the free flow of information during a major public health crisis, audience members were not only actively engaged in information seeking from alternative resources such as short message services (SMS) and the internet, but they were also involved in creating alternative information channels by being information producers and disseminators. The internet was a particularly empowering tool to allow individuals to bypass official control and to challenge official claims during the crisis.

Key Words: Chinese media • health communication • internet • media dependency • SARS • SMS

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New Media & Society, Vol. 9, No. 6, 987-1009 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1461444807082691


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Tai, Z. Articles by Sun, T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?