“Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts

Amy Wu; Will W. K. Ma; Wing Lam Chan

doi:10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_6

“Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts

Amy Wu, Will W. K. Ma^*, Wing Lam Chan

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Communication

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

This study evolved from the question of how whistleblowers are portrayed and characterized by the news media. A primary objective of this study is to specifically examine how Snowden was characterized and portrayed in The Guardian and The Washington Post as well as a control comparison with a Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post (SCMP) as Snowden had been stayed in Hong Kong. To this end, a comparative textual analysis of news articles was performed—by tracking the keywords—from the period of June 10, 2013 (when Snowden first disclosed the information to the newspapers) through October 31, 2013. This study concludes that keywords may be critically important in the portrayal and characterization of individuals such as Snowden, and that portrayal of that individual can change over a selected time frame. Since this study is based on limited analysis of selected news coverage to date, its conclusions must be viewed as preliminary in need of future data as the Snowden coverage continues.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies
Subtitle of host publication	HKAECT 2014 International Conference
Editors	Will W.K. Ma, Allan H.K. Yuen, Jae Park, Wilfred W.F. Lau, Liping Deng
Place of Publication	Singapore
Publisher	Springer
Chapter	6
Pages	53-66
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9789812872098
ISBN (Print)	9789812872081, 9789811013584
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_6
Publication status	Published - 4 Oct 2014
Event	New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference - The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Duration: 8 Dec 2014 → 10 Dec 2014 http://www.hkaect.org/hkaect2014/ (conference website) http://www.hkaect.org/hkaect2014/program.html (conference program)

Conference

Conference	New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference
Country/Territory	China
City	Hong Kong
Period	8/12/14 → 10/12/14
Internet address	http://www.hkaect.org/hkaect2014/ (conference website) http://www.hkaect.org/hkaect2014/program.html (conference program)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_6

Cite this

Wu, A., Ma, W. W. K., & Chan, W. L. (2014). “Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts. In W. W. K. Ma, A. H. K. Yuen, J. Park, W. W. F. Lau, & L. Deng (Eds.), New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference (pp. 53-66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_6

Wu, Amy ; Ma, Will W. K. ; Chan, Wing Lam. / “Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts. New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference. editor / Will W.K. Ma ; Allan H.K. Yuen ; Jae Park ; Wilfred W.F. Lau ; Liping Deng. Singapore : Springer, 2014. pp. 53-66

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title = "“Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts",

abstract = "This study evolved from the question of how whistleblowers are portrayed and characterized by the news media. A primary objective of this study is to specifically examine how Snowden was characterized and portrayed in The Guardian and The Washington Post as well as a control comparison with a Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post (SCMP) as Snowden had been stayed in Hong Kong. To this end, a comparative textual analysis of news articles was performed—by tracking the keywords—from the period of June 10, 2013 (when Snowden first disclosed the information to the newspapers) through October 31, 2013. This study concludes that keywords may be critically important in the portrayal and characterization of individuals such as Snowden, and that portrayal of that individual can change over a selected time frame. Since this study is based on limited analysis of selected news coverage to date, its conclusions must be viewed as preliminary in need of future data as the Snowden coverage continues.",

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Wu, A, Ma, WWK & Chan, WL 2014, “Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts. in WWK Ma, AHK Yuen, J Park, WWF Lau & L Deng (eds), New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference. Springer, Singapore, pp. 53-66, New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference, Hong Kong, China, 8/12/14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_6

“Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts. / Wu, Amy; Ma, Will W. K.; Chan, Wing Lam.
New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference. ed. / Will W.K. Ma; Allan H.K. Yuen; Jae Park; Wilfred W.F. Lau; Liping Deng. Singapore: Springer, 2014. p. 53-66.

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

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AU - Chan, Wing Lam

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Y1 - 2014/10/4

N2 - This study evolved from the question of how whistleblowers are portrayed and characterized by the news media. A primary objective of this study is to specifically examine how Snowden was characterized and portrayed in The Guardian and The Washington Post as well as a control comparison with a Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post (SCMP) as Snowden had been stayed in Hong Kong. To this end, a comparative textual analysis of news articles was performed—by tracking the keywords—from the period of June 10, 2013 (when Snowden first disclosed the information to the newspapers) through October 31, 2013. This study concludes that keywords may be critically important in the portrayal and characterization of individuals such as Snowden, and that portrayal of that individual can change over a selected time frame. Since this study is based on limited analysis of selected news coverage to date, its conclusions must be viewed as preliminary in need of future data as the Snowden coverage continues.

AB - This study evolved from the question of how whistleblowers are portrayed and characterized by the news media. A primary objective of this study is to specifically examine how Snowden was characterized and portrayed in The Guardian and The Washington Post as well as a control comparison with a Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post (SCMP) as Snowden had been stayed in Hong Kong. To this end, a comparative textual analysis of news articles was performed—by tracking the keywords—from the period of June 10, 2013 (when Snowden first disclosed the information to the newspapers) through October 31, 2013. This study concludes that keywords may be critically important in the portrayal and characterization of individuals such as Snowden, and that portrayal of that individual can change over a selected time frame. Since this study is based on limited analysis of selected news coverage to date, its conclusions must be viewed as preliminary in need of future data as the Snowden coverage continues.

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“Whistleblower or Leaker?” Examining the Portrayal and Characterization of Edward Snowden in USA, UK, and HK Posts

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

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