Differences in Public Trust in Traditional Chinese Media in the Context of Digital Transformation
Authorship
Y.L.
Master's Degree in Journalism and Multimedia Communication: New Trends in Production, Management and Dissemination of Knowledge
Y.L.
Master's Degree in Journalism and Multimedia Communication: New Trends in Production, Management and Dissemination of Knowledge
Defense date
02.05.2026 16:45
02.05.2026 16:45
Summary
In the context of the digital transformation era, traditional Chinese media are undergoing profound structural changes. Media forms are continuously expanding toward digital platforms, ranging from print publishing to radio and television. During this process, public access to information has undergone unprecedented changes. Five representative traditional Chinese media outlets were selected for this study: People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, and Guangming Daily The study explores differences in public trust in the context of digital transformation. In the quantitative component, public evaluations of trust in the digital accounts of these five traditional media outlets were investigated through an online questionnaire. A total of 519 valid questionnaires were collected. Based on a five-point Likert scale, the questionnaire analyzes differences in trust among the media outlets and the relationship between trust dimensions and overall trust. In the qualitative component, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with general audiences, traditional media professionals, and researchers in the field of journalism and communication, focusing on subjective perceptions and empirical explanations of changes in trust in traditional media in the context of digital platform use. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the reconfiguration of media trust in the Chinese context and provides empirical references for enhancing the credibility of traditional media in their relationship with audiences during digital transformation.
In the context of the digital transformation era, traditional Chinese media are undergoing profound structural changes. Media forms are continuously expanding toward digital platforms, ranging from print publishing to radio and television. During this process, public access to information has undergone unprecedented changes. Five representative traditional Chinese media outlets were selected for this study: People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Beijing Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, and Guangming Daily The study explores differences in public trust in the context of digital transformation. In the quantitative component, public evaluations of trust in the digital accounts of these five traditional media outlets were investigated through an online questionnaire. A total of 519 valid questionnaires were collected. Based on a five-point Likert scale, the questionnaire analyzes differences in trust among the media outlets and the relationship between trust dimensions and overall trust. In the qualitative component, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with general audiences, traditional media professionals, and researchers in the field of journalism and communication, focusing on subjective perceptions and empirical explanations of changes in trust in traditional media in the context of digital platform use. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the reconfiguration of media trust in the Chinese context and provides empirical references for enhancing the credibility of traditional media in their relationship with audiences during digital transformation.
Direction
LOPEZ GARCIA, XOSE (Tutorships)
LOPEZ GARCIA, XOSE (Tutorships)
Court
GARCIA OROSA, BERTA (Chairman)
QUIAN PAMPIN, ALBERTO (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ VAZQUEZ, ANA ISABEL (Member)
GARCIA OROSA, BERTA (Chairman)
QUIAN PAMPIN, ALBERTO (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ VAZQUEZ, ANA ISABEL (Member)
The Traces of the DANA
Authorship
S.M.R.
Master's Degree in Journalism and Multimedia Communication
S.M.R.
Master's Degree in Journalism and Multimedia Communication
Defense date
02.05.2026 16:00
02.05.2026 16:00
Summary
This Master's Thesis consists of the development of a multimedia report titled The Traces of the DANA (Las Huellas de la DANA), which documents the reconstruction process of the Valencian Community following the catastrophe that occurred on October 29, 2024. On that day, the presence of an Isolated High-Altitude Depression (DANA), combined with the humid flow from the Mediterranean, triggered one of the greatest natural crises of the 21st century in Spain. Flow peaks challenged historic infrastructures such as the Plan Sur, highlighting the vulnerability of modern urban planning in flood-prone areas. The project’s central axis is the creation of a collective memory, making society’s recovery visible through direct testimonies, official sources, and relevant figures. Based on an approach rooted in slow journalism, storytelling, and constructive journalism, this work seeks to humanize the figures and focus on the long-term resilience of the population. In contrast to ephemeral journalistic interest, this project aims to address the common shortcomings of breaking news, prioritizing a context that allows for deep understanding and shedding light on issues that usually remain outside the media spotlight. This perspective allows for an evaluation of the real impact on the territory and the evolution of its inhabitants, moving beyond the initial noise of the news. The report is hosted on an interactive platform that integrates text, photography, video, and graphics, enabling a dynamic narrative about the physical and emotional traces that endure. The term traces (huellas) refers not only to the mud but also to the invisible scar of trauma. The goal is to offer coverage that accompanies the reconfiguration process of the affected areas.
This Master's Thesis consists of the development of a multimedia report titled The Traces of the DANA (Las Huellas de la DANA), which documents the reconstruction process of the Valencian Community following the catastrophe that occurred on October 29, 2024. On that day, the presence of an Isolated High-Altitude Depression (DANA), combined with the humid flow from the Mediterranean, triggered one of the greatest natural crises of the 21st century in Spain. Flow peaks challenged historic infrastructures such as the Plan Sur, highlighting the vulnerability of modern urban planning in flood-prone areas. The project’s central axis is the creation of a collective memory, making society’s recovery visible through direct testimonies, official sources, and relevant figures. Based on an approach rooted in slow journalism, storytelling, and constructive journalism, this work seeks to humanize the figures and focus on the long-term resilience of the population. In contrast to ephemeral journalistic interest, this project aims to address the common shortcomings of breaking news, prioritizing a context that allows for deep understanding and shedding light on issues that usually remain outside the media spotlight. This perspective allows for an evaluation of the real impact on the territory and the evolution of its inhabitants, moving beyond the initial noise of the news. The report is hosted on an interactive platform that integrates text, photography, video, and graphics, enabling a dynamic narrative about the physical and emotional traces that endure. The term traces (huellas) refers not only to the mud but also to the invisible scar of trauma. The goal is to offer coverage that accompanies the reconfiguration process of the affected areas.
Direction
VAZQUEZ HERRERO, JORGE (Tutorships)
VAZQUEZ HERRERO, JORGE (Tutorships)
Court
RODRIGUEZ VAZQUEZ, ANA ISABEL (Chairman)
TENREIRO UZAL, CIBRAN (Secretary)
BARREIRO GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLIÑA (Member)
RODRIGUEZ VAZQUEZ, ANA ISABEL (Chairman)
TENREIRO UZAL, CIBRAN (Secretary)
BARREIRO GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLIÑA (Member)