Who Sets Media Agendas for AAPI Media? — Computational Mapping of News Agendas in AAPI Ethnic/Diaspora Media, Hyper-Partisan Media, and International Broadcasters
Abstract:
This study applies a computational framework to investigate the intermedia gatekeeping within AAPI ethnic and diaspora media, hyper-partisan outlets, and international broadcasters, focusing on political vulnerabilities of AAPI communities to polarization and geopolitical tensions. Relying on the RNewsflowalgorithm and LLM-based validation, the study maps content flows dynamics across 365 AAPI outlets, alongside posts from international broadcasters and conservative U.S. media, spanning 1/1/2019 to 1/31/2024. Through network analysis, we reveal key gatekeeping roles and dependencies, with conservative and state-affiliated media impacting peripheral AAPI outlets. The findings underscore the ideological and geopolitical influences shaping AAPI media, enabling future research on the ecosystem’s internal divisions and external dependencies.
Weiai (Wayne) Xu researches political discourse across digital platforms, focusing on how such discourse is spread through networked digital infrastructure and the impact of ideologies. He employs computational models to identify key players, influential spheres, and prominent topics in online political conversations. His work aims to foster a global public sphere that is open, vibrant, and robust, capable of countering the threats of democratic backsliding and authoritarianism.
