News production and attribution construction in Chinese local press: a progression analysis

Résumé

This research undertakes a progression analysis to examine the distinction in the ways local and national/international news is produced in Chinese local press. It takes online newswriting processes of Chinese journalists as the analytical point of entry. Based on ethnographic data collected in a Chinese local newspaper, the study finds significant differences in the production of local and national/international news in Chinese local press. It is argued that such differences are relevant to the ways attribution is constructed. Interviews with Chinese journalists reveal that they foster distinctive strategies in constructing attribution in accord with the kinds of news they work on. Additionally, the study finds that attribution constitutes significant discursive resources through which journalists exercise power in news production.