Media Narratives and the COVID-19 Pandemic : The Asian Experience

This volume investigates mediated lives and media narratives during the Covid-19 pandemic, with Asia as a focus point. It shows how the pandemic has created an unprecedented situation in this globalized world marked by many disruptions in the social, economic, political, and cultural lives of individuals and communities― creating a ‘new normal’. It explores the different media vocabularies of fear, panic, social distancing, and contagion from across Asian nations. It focuses on the role media played as most nations faced lockdowns and unique challenges during the crisis. From healthcare workers to sex workers, from racism to nationalism, from the plight of migrant workers in news reporting to state propaganda, this book brings critical questions confronting media professionals into focus. The volume is of critical interest to scholars and researchers of media and communication studies, politics, especially political communication, social and public policy, and Asian studies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Illustrations Figures Tables Contributors Introduction The ‘Global Village’ in the Time of Corona Remembering Pandemics and Natural Disasters References Part I: Missing and Marginalized Narratives Chapter 1: Unrest in the Comments: Voicing the Discontent of Japan’s Foreign Residents in the Comments Sections of Japan Today Introduction Big in Japan, but Always an Outsider Having Your Say: News Comments and Their Value Methods Reader Sentiment and Article Themes Entry Ban State of Emergency: What Emergency? Second-Class Citizens Conclusion References Chapter 2: Gender, Media and the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Investigation into Missing Gendered Narratives in Indian News Media Introduction Gendered Impact of Covid-19 Gender and Media: Gender Bias in News Media/Coverage Methodology A Brief Overview of Indian Press Gender and the Indian News Media Of Numbers and Statistics ‘Symbolic Annihilation’ of Gender Concerns Conclusion References Chapter 3: The Mask Dilemma: Hierarchy between Two Know-Hows in Chinese-Language Media of Canada The Study The Pre-Outbreak Phase Confinement and Border Control The Mask Issue The Theresa Tam Issue Conclusion References Chapter 4: Missing Media Narratives: Covid’s Impact on Transgender Population in India Introduction Impact of Covid on Indian Transgender Community: Three Case-Studies Missing Media Narratives: Analysis of English News-Stories on Transgender Persons Theme One: Impact of Covid and 2020 Lockdown/Pandemic on Transgender Population Theme Two: Plight of Hijra Community during Covid Theme Three: Government Initiatives Theme Four: Government Negligence Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part II: Media Memory and Narratives Chapter 5: Masked Presence: Covid-19 and Remembering SARS in Taiwan Introduction The “Taiwan Model” for Containing Covid-19 Mask Diplomacy and Masked Governance Masking as a Total Social Fact “Lucky to be Taiwanese”? SARS, Masks, and Covid-19 The Past, Redux: Remembering SARS Notes Bibliography Chapter 6: Familial Halcyon: Narratives of Nostalgia in the Lockdown Introduction The Disjuncture Apparatus ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ Second-Order Myths and Intellectual Uncertainty Narratives of Nostalgia Conclusion Notes References Part III: Media Bias and Propaganda Chapter 7: Taiwan Can Help: Covid-19, the Model Minority State, and the Limits of Taiwan-as-Beacon Rhetoric Taiwan-as-Beacon and the Model Minority State Covid-19 and the Model Minority State Conclusion References Chapter 8: The Myths of Hate: Digital Deception in the (Communal) Times of Covid-19 Introduction The Deception Ecosystem Islamophobia and The Indian State The Communal Turn of Covid-19 Decoding Digital Disinformation Actors Goals Media Ecosystems Stratagems Concluding Remarks: The Myths of Hate Notes References Chapter 9: Risk Communication versus Risks in Communication: Efforts of Vietnam Government in Controlling Messages during the Covid-19 Pandemic Introduction Literature Background Organizational Model of Covid-19 Prevention Communication System of the Government of Vietnam Message about Covid-19 Pandemic Prevention by Government Discussion and Conclusion References Chapter 10: Modern Hua Mulans in Global Chinese-Speaking Media: Female Frontline Workers as Tools of Propaganda during the Covid-19 Pandemic Introduction Official PRC Media Coverage of Female Frontline Workers during the Pandemic The Problem of Hua Mulan and the Masculinization of Working Women Backlash from Chinese-Speaking Media Outside Mainland China Conclusion References Part IV: Mainstream and Alternative Narratives Chapter 11: Confronting Anti-Asian Bias in the Classroom: Reflections on the Importance of Asian and Asian American Studies in the Wake of Covid-19 The Importance of Asian and Asian American Studies The Need for Media Literacy Andragogical Strategies to Confront Yellow Peril Supporting Asian International and Asian American Students Reflections on Our Roles as Educators One of the Few (Kimberly) Always Asking Why (Meghan) Conclusion Notes References Chapter 12: From a Story of Disaster to a Story of Victory: Chinese Media Reports in the Covid-19 Crisis Introduction Theoretical Background: Media in China Party Journalism and Market Journalism Media under Xi Jinping Method and Data Selection Results Local and Central Governments: Whose Faults? Whose Merits? Health Workers: “War Heroes” or Victims? In and Out of Hospitals: Setting the Stage, Setting the Narrative Discussion and Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: The Covid-19 Pandemic: News Reporting in Malaysia Introduction The Malaysian News Media The Star Online Malaysiakini Journalists and News Sources Malaysia and the Covid-19 Pandemic Methodology Findings Themes March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 Sources March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 Conclusion References Part V: Narratives of Othering Chapter 14: Viral Vilification Introduction Cartoon Cover Citizenship Criticisms Consequences Notes References Chapter 15: Pandemics, Politics and Religious ‘Others’: Exploring Media Narratives during Covid-19 in India and Pakistan Introduction Politics of Religion in India and Pakistan Media Narratives in India Media Narratives in Pakistan Conclusion Notes References Part VI: Social Media Narratives Chapter 16: Social Media and Vietnamese Undocumented Workers in Thailand during the Covid-19 Pandemic Introduction Marginalization during the Covid-19 Pandemic Use of Social Media to Mitigate Everyday Experience of Marginalization Use of Social Media to Mitigate Marginalization during the Covid-19 Pandemic Discussion and Conclusion References Chapter 17: Representations of Covid-19 in West Asia: A Case Study of Islamic Republic News Agency’s (IRNA) Instagram Account Introduction Methodology Findings Analysis of National and International News Covered by IRNA Instagram Page Analysis of National News on Covid-19 Covered by IRNA Instagram Page Analysis of International News Covered on Covid-19 by IRNA Instagram Page Analysis of the Type of Content used by IRNA Instagram Page Conclusion References Chapter 18: Don’t Panic! Reach Us: Indian Tech Unions’ Social Media Narratives during the Pandemic Introduction Review: Existing Accounts and Unexplored Aspects Methods Data: Narratives of Precarity Individual Narratives Collective Narratives Discussion: Interpreting the Narratives Conclusion Note References "This volume investigates mediated lives and media narratives during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Asia as a focus point. It shows how the pandemic has created an unprecedented situation in this globalized world marked by many disruptions in the social, economic, political and cultural lives of individuals and communities - creating a 'new normal'. It explores the different media vocabularies of fear, panic, social distancing, and contagion from across Asian nations. It focuses on the role media played as most nations faced lockdowns and unique challenges during this crisis. From healthcare workers to sex workers, from racism to nationalism, from the plight of migrant workers in news reporting to state propaganda, this book brings critical questions confronting media professionals into focus. The volume will be of critical interest to scholars and researchers of media and communication studies, politics, especially political communication, social and public policy, and Asian studies"-- Provided by publisher