Abstract
Current literature suggests that, as a form of communication, rumor is a story or statement circulated without confirmation. Rumors emerge under conditions marked by a combination of uncertainty, involvement, anxiety, and credulity, and may circulate by word-of-mouth or various media. The SARS- and war-related rumors in China in 2003 have stimulated new thoughts to the existing theories of rumor. The spread of the rumors was due to a unique combination of Chinese culture and society, the media environment in China, and conditions conducive to generating rumors. New media played a significant role in disseminating information with high efficiency and facilitating free flow of information.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 376-391 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Communication Quarterly |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Scopus Subject Areas
- Communication
User-Defined Keywords
- Chinese communication
- Chinese culture
- Internet
- New media
- Rumor
- Sars
- Sms