中国におけるＰＭ２．５に関する環境コミュニケーションについて

2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15F15733
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: 佐倉 統 東京大学, 大学院情報学環, 教授 (00251752)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Wang Lei 東京大学, 大学院情報学環, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2015-07-29 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 環境災害 / メディア / ニューメディア / マイクロブログ / スモッグ / PM2.5 / 中国 / 環境コミュニケーション

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In this fiscal year we have collected related literatures and materials exhaustively within the limited scope for reviewing the whole evolution process of the PM2.5 environmental communication since 2011 in China precisely. The collected materials include relevant policies and regulations, statistical data, research reports as well as academic papers. Afterwards, we investigated them for making a preliminary judgment of periodization for evolution process. Furthermore, in order to carry on an international level comparative study, we also had deep review on the related environmental policies and environmental governance in the EU. A commentary article which related to the role of the micro-blog in environmental incidents has been submitted to an international journal; and another paper which focuses on the comparison between traditional media and new media toward the PM2.5 air pollution is now in preparation and plan to be finished within the first half year in 2016.
The current works which have been done built a strong base for the going on research in the following fiscal year. Based on the all works above, we will then conclude the pros and cons in the evolution process of PM2.5 environmental communication; put forward solution methods for the improvement and design a suitable communication model for contemporary China. At the same time, we plan to submit 2 original articles to international academic journals and make presentations in academic conferences.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

In this year, we finished the material collection from relevant policies and regulations, statistical data, research reports, academic papers and investigations. In order to carry on international comparisons, Wang went to Berlin to collect related materials in local libraries in last November. By doing these, we are now making a preliminary judgment of periodization for evolution process of environmental communication toward the smog pollution in China. In our research plan, between October 2015 and April 2016 we plan to review the historical stages of the evolution process precisely during the period. We’re now still carrying on this work.
At the same time, during the 2015-16 fiscal year Wang wrote a commentary article and submitted it to the “Media, Culture & Society” journal in March 2016. This article examines the role of the microblog using the 2015 Tianjin port explosions as a case study. In China, the traditional news media is controlled by local, provincial, or national governments, which means that its news content is restricted and regulated by a central agency. Prior to the internet’s proliferation, this meant that only the “official” version of the news would be propagated, one which could be manufactured. However, over the past decade, the microblog has become a very influential source of alternative news, as part of the new media wave, and suppressed information can be shared among netizens instantly. The status of this article is now “with editor; awaiting reviewer selection”.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

During the second fiscal year, based on the former investigations, we will analyze the characteristics and discuss the driving factors of the PM2.5 environmental communication in China. Based on the all works above, we will then conclude the pros and cons in the evolution process of PM2.5 environmental communication; put forward solution methods for the improvement and design a suitable communication model for contemporary China.
We plan to take part in several academic conferences such as the East Asian STS Conference and the annual meeting of Japanese Society for Science and Technology Studies. Two original papers will also be submitted to international journals within this year. We are now working on a paper which focuses on a comparative study between the tradition media and new media (taken the People’s Daily as the case). The second paper will focus on the characteristics and driving factors of PM2.5 environmental communication in China, which will be finished before November 2016. Based on the current works presented above, we’ll finish the work of concluding the pros and cons in the evolution process of PM2.5 environmental communication and designing a suitable communication model for contemporary China and then finish the final report on time in May 2017.