![Sample our Communication Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, 2013 & 2014 volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5927/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Information-Science2.jpg"})
Abstract
This paper examines the role online news sites play in global catastrophic crisis and attempts to find out what factors influence the glocalization mechanism of the online news coverage. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic was used as a case for investigation. Seventeen news sites in seven regions with varying degrees of press freedom and social impact caused by SARS were examined. Findings indicate that during the SARS epidemic online news sites blended global reporting with local reporting. They were rooted in the local but facing the global—they became ‘glocal’. Social relevancy and Internet press freedom were found to be the two important determinants of affecting the glocalization of SARS coverage. Adopting different journalistic modes, some of the online news sites served as SARS interactive community bulletin boards, and others acted as global SARS monitors.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by a Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (HKBU2022/00H) from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong.