A Study on the News Scheme of the Agricultural Broadcasting News

TV에 나타난 농업분야 방송 뉴스 도식

The purpose of the study was to analyze agricultural and rural news in mass media reporting. This study analyzed the representation of agricultural and rural news of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), established in 1947 as a public service broadcaster and the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), established in 1990 as a private service broadcaster in Korea. There has been criticisms of isolated and anecdotal reporting of agricultural and rural issues, thus, leading to negative public perception mainly influenced by mass media even though there has been increases in the publicity activities regards agricultural policies in the KBS and SBS broadcasting news. This study was designed to reveal the merits of the preceding criticisms. For this purpose, a total of 437 news items issued between September 2004 and August 2005 were analyzed via content and framing analysis research methodologies. The major findings and conclusions of the study were as follows: 1. Content analysis of agricultural and rural news revealed that the lack of relative quantity and 'in-depth analysis' in agricultural reporting and the thematic concentration on negative news and flash events were the most prominent characteristics of Korean broadcasting news. 2. The quantity of agricultural news was relatively insufficient and qualitatively superficial and stereotyped lacking in comprehensive understanding of agricultural and rural issues and inclined toward flash events and crisis-oriented. Based on the findings and conclusions, following recommendations are offered; 1) Agricultural institutions should consider changing the images of rural society and farmers implementing agricultural and rural policies in the future, and perception of the general public should be considered in reporting agricultural and rural news. 2) Further research should be conducted to provide practical implications for the broadcast media on the agricultural information system.