Eighth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Increasing access to online media leads us into a “Digital Era in Journalism.” Japan, the largest newspaper circulator, is cognizant. Shaping public opinion, online media is indispensable to addressing social issues and policy challenges. This study analyze international news reporting trends in Japanese online media and examine what influences news coverage, particularly Japan’s leading online media, Yahoo! News, during 2020–2021. The findings indicate that the proportion of international news covered in online media was relatively small, and there was an imbalance in reporting trends, that is, only a few specific countries were covered. Thus, it was clear that there was no significant difference in reporting trends between traditional and online media despite the latter’s fewer limitations in terms of publishing space. Furthermore, although international news coverage is the foundation for mutual understanding and public opinion formation in the international community, much of the coverage was related to the “home” state: Japan. Therefore, in the Japanese context, readers may be unable to gain an objective outlook on various world affairs. In addition, this study can clarify the trends and determinants of online media’s international news coverage. Comparing the results with research on traditional media can help understand the role of online media in Japan and other countries. Finally, focusing on online media is essential due to the potential increase in fake news and deepfakes in the future, which would lead to the spread of disinformation. Therefore, these findings help shed light on journalism in the digital age.