Abstract
The Internet brings about ‘new media power’, which transforms the power dynamics associated with traditional mainstream media. This form of power has largely been associated with a (co)producer perspective, which stresses that ordinary Internet users are able to participate in news production. In many cases, however, Internet users merely read news online and may leave comments. Instead of contributing to news production, these comments are likely to reflect how news is consumed. Does online news consumption also have power implications? Using a case study from China, this paper examines newsreaders' consumption of online news in a network consisting of news websites, discussion forums and blogs. It argues that this networked consumption gives active readers a strong voice and thus power.
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Lijun Tang
Lijun Tang is a research associate at the Seafarers International Research Centre, Cardiff University, UK. His research interests and publications are in the areas of Internet culture and politics in China, occupational health and safety in shipping, new technology and seafarers' training, and intimate relationships.