Study On Risk Discourse Construction Of Genetically Modified(GM) Food In China

The genetically modified(GM) has always been an issue disputed all over the world, and the policies about GM technology vary from one country to another.However, due to the huge social and economic benefits by the GM technology, more and more countries come to develop GM technology and take it as one of the leading strategic choices of the future. In China, as a product of the GM technology, the GM food have raised nation-wide and long- lasting dispute.This dissertation begins the study with the investigation into the chronical coverage on the GM food and outlines the overall situation of GM food in the China’s media field,and finds that the involvement of social media has been a key variable on the expression of issues concerning GM food. As a result, the evolution of the discourse about GM food has undergone from the discourse construction by government and media, to the risk discourse constructed by the public understanding about science with experts intruding, and to risk discourse made by the government, media, experts and public in the social media. Then the dissertation analyzes the GM salmon as a case discussed in social media to find how such agents as government, media, experts and public have disputed in Sina Weibo and argue the way that the agents apply in the media field, to some extent, have become a key factor to amplify the social risk of GM food. Therefore,it revises the social amplification of risk framework(SARF).Based on the above findings, the dissertation draws two conclusions, one is that the change of media field influences the perception and expression of risk and the social media, as an amplificating station, plays an important role in the perception and amplification of GM food. The other is that, in face of many issues about GM food,government, media, experts and the public should have a sound interaction and establish an open, transparent and entrusted communication system available for the risk information.The dissertation has made some contributions to the risk communication of GM food. Firstly, instead of applying linear approach, the dissertation combines chronological and synchronical approaches into one and investigates the participants concerning the risk perception of the GM food. Secondly, it attaches importance to the agents in the risk amplification of GM food. Not only does it focus on the interactions between individuals, but also explains how the social network weaven by a few agencies impacts on the GM food risk perception and dissemination.