Research An article written by Weirui Wang, “Framing genetically modified mosquitoes

An article written by Weirui Wang, “Framing genetically modified mosquitoes in the online news and Twitter: Intermedia frame setting in the issue-attention cycle” and published by Public Understanding of Science, examined how the topic of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes was framed by the online news media and twitter.

During the Zika outbreak in 2015 the idea of controlling the transmission of the virus by introducing GM mosquitos into the mosquito population entered the public sphere. Framing of this issue changes over time because of shifting public attention and the relationship between the online news media and twitter. This is important because many people now get their news online, and although twitter is only one platform, “One hundred sixty million users send upward of 90 million messages per day” on twitter, according to Communications ACM, so it has massive influence as well.

When the Zika virus began showing up in more places and affecting more people it led to an emotional response that could be seen across twitter. Initially the idea of controlling transmission of the mosquito-borne virus by intruding GM mosquitos to the population was very popular. The most prevalent discussions on twitter were concerned with the benefits of this strategy. Most online news stories discussed these benefits in terms of health, cost effectiveness, and economics. The risks involved were discussed but overall using GM mosquitos was framed positively. The initial frame setting was led by twitter and the news media then followed the twitter sentiment. As time progressed and enthusiasm started to fade the frame began to shift.

The shift started in the News media this time and was then followed by twitter. The online news media began to frame the use of GM mosquitos as potentially risky. More stories highlighting the risks of genetic modification were published and stories touting the benefits became less prevalent. This shift could be seen on twitter as well, but it was only after the issue was no longer new to the public’s attention, and the online news media shifted to a more negative framing of the issue. The relationship between the news media and twitter may also have been affected by timing.

According to IEEE, online news sources have a large influence on other online news sources; however, the influences on twitter may be more coincidental. With time comes more information, and although the news media’s frame shifted before twitter it may have been only a matter of time before the twitter frame shifted on its own.

In conclusion, twitter and the Online news media seem to have a co-dependent relationship. Twitter is a reliable gage of the general public’s feelings toward an issue, while the news media responds to public sentiment before ultimately driving it.

Original

Article: https://journals-sagepub-com.ezproxy.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/doi/full/10.1177/0963662518799564