媒體再現研究：以狂犬病新聞為例

Abstract

新聞自由已成台灣民主社會值得驕傲之處，然而該關切的是媒體與新聞界之自由會對台灣社會帶來什麼利與弊？新聞媒體提供準確而平衡的資訊，讓公眾理性抉擇，獨立而負責的新聞機構實為民主社會不可或缺的存在。隨著資訊與媒介數量的激增，民眾所接受的資料與途徑趨於多元，各國因應此現象，對如何篩選、解構、理解、再製訊息的能力納入國民必須具備的多元文化素養之一。 本研究以質性文本分析佐量化趨勢分析探討爆發於台灣2013年七月之狂犬病疫情期間，「聯合報」、「自由時報」、「蘋果日報」三大媒體如何扮演傳播知識、引導辨識風險、誘導譴責與建構狂犬病相關知識的重要媒介，並以何種價值觀為出發點詮釋各面向。 研究發現報導高峰期的新聞數量為867則，三報平均一天超過20篇相關報導，消息來源以「政府衛生單位」為主，隨著疫情發展，來源偏態比例逐漸提升；風險呈現以「傳染風險」與「疫苗疏漏」為主；不確定因素則明顯集中於對於政府政策、方針措施與民眾生活的不安與未知；在知識建構層面，傳達民眾關於如何預防、咬傷處理步驟「預防治療」為主，對於建構狂犬病有關的「歷史發展」與「病原介紹」深入的「病理機制」頻率皆在20％以下，顯示對專業性知識傳達的不足。 新聞媒體多以中性偏負面的框架，選擇議題。一方面自許監督施政的第四權，檢視苛責政府施政，另一方面替政府宣傳政績，模糊的角色定位可謂新聞自由的一大象徵。在風險傳達、辨識與狂犬病知識內容的廣度與深度皆受到局限與空乏，不確定性多聚焦在政府施政與民眾生活。本研究建議可增加知識性內容的廣度使受眾更能理性思考疫情資訊，使民眾不僅是資訊的接受者，更能對資訊內容作比較判斷而對疫情局勢有更深層的掌握與理解。Freedom of the speech has become what to be proud of in Taiwan's democratic society, but what were the pros and cons effects on freedom of speech in Taiwan society? News media provides us accurate and unbiased information, for the public to choose their opinion rationally, Independent and responsible news organization in a democratic society is indeed indispensable existence. With the surge in number of press and media of present day, government response to this phenomenon, the ability to filter, deconstruction, understanding, and reconstructing information of its citizens has been a critical attainment in today’s multicultural society. This study was based on qualitative text analysis and quantifies trend analysis to investigate the dissemination of knowledge, risk identification and construction of knowledge on Taiwan’s three major media UDN, LTN and Apply Daily in what value, what point of departure to convey different perspectives, during the Rabies outbreak in July 2013. The study found out that the peak number of news report were 867 articles, from the above mentioned three media, during the Rabies outbreak, having an average number more than 20 articles a day. Information base on the government health department, with the development of the epidemic, the proportion of lopsidedness news sources gradually rose. Risk communication gives priority exposing Infection Risk and Vaccine omissions information. Uncertainties significantly concentrated on government policies, unknown policy measures, and public anxiety. Knowledge constructing mainly bases on prevention, treatment steps. However, lacking of Rabies developing history, pathogen introductions and pathological mechanisms, indicating the insufficient professional knowledge display from Taiwan’s major Medias. News media trends to be slightly negative to choose report subject. Furthermore, Self-identified as supervision and criticism on government policies, as well being propaganda agent for government achievements, such indistinct role signified the freedom of speech. However, risk communication, identification, and related Rabies knowledge were limited in the phase of depth and range; uncertainties were mostly focused on government policies and public activities. This study suggest to increase the knowledge contents in news report to drive the audiences to rational thinking, not just a receiver of information, but also be able to process the contents to determine the epidemic situation with deeper understanding and epistemology.