Exploring The “New Yellow Journalism” Phenomenon on Douyin

Welcome to my video project, where we delve into the phenomenon of “New Yellow Journalism” on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. In this exploration, I define the term “New Yellow Journalism” and highlight its common characteristics through illustrative examples. Moreover, I conduct an analysis of the causes and negative impacts associated with this trend on Douyin.

Drawing primarily from scholarly and media sources, I have meticulously curated the content for this project. Academic resources have been instrumental in framing the concept of “New Yellow Journalism,” even though a standardized academic definition was elusive. To bridge this gap, I extensively researched media interviews with communication scholars discussing the phenomenon. Synthesizing their insights with my own observations, I offer a comprehensive understanding within the project.

In crafting the script, I extensively utilized media resources, sourcing classic examples from Douyin and real-life instances to elucidate my analysis. To ensure accessibility for English-speaking audiences, I provided translations of essential information from Chinese Douyin videos, enhancing clarity and comprehension.

Additionally, I integrated various elements such as still images, stock videos, and icons sourced from Internet platforms like Canva, Envato Elements, and Motion Array. These elements enrich the visual narrative, augmenting the project’s impact and engagement.

An important revision to note is the transition from hosting the video file directly on my website to embedding a YouTube link. Responding to feedback regarding accessibility issues, I’ve addressed this concern by uploading the video to YouTube and embedding it using the YouTube block feature on my website, ensuring seamless viewing for all visitors.

Here are my references:

Chen, X. Kaye, D. B. V., & Zeng, J. (2020). #PositiveEnergy Douyin: constructing “playful patriotism” in a Chinese short-video application. Chinese Journal of Communication, 14(1), 97-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2020.1761848

Chernavina, K., & Chernavina, K. (2023, November 20). Marketing on Douyin 2023: What do brands need to know to sell on douyin?HI-COM. https://www.hicom-asia.com/marketing-on-douyin guide/#;~text-Douyin%20has%20a,the%20Chinese%20market

McAuley, L K. (2007)., “Periodical Vistitations”: Yellow Fever as Yellow Journalism in Chalres Brockden Brown’s Arthur Mervyn.

Eighteenth-century Fiction, 19(3), 307-340. https://doi.org/10.1353/ecf.2007.0008

On TikTok, people are fuelling surveillance culture. (2023, December 7). Huck. https://www.huckmag.com/article/how-tiktok-is fuelling-surveillance-culture

Sofiamaddalena. (2024, January 30). Digital 2023 – We are Social China. We Are Social China. https://wearesocial.com/cn/blog/2023/01/digital-2023

Tang, s., Willnat, L., & Zhang, H. (2021). Fake news, information overload, and the third-person effect in China. Global Media and China, 6(4), 492-507. https://doi.org/10.1177/20594364211047369

Wang, H., & Meng, J. (2022). The de-professionalization of Chinese journalism. Chinese Journal of Communication, 16(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2022.2093237

Wang, Y. (2020). Humor and camera view on mobile short-form video apps influence user experience and technology-adoption intent, an example of TikTok (DouYin). Computers in Human Behavior, 110, 106373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106373

Yi, K. (2021, March 3). Douyin has become a key promotion platform for movies. China Marketing Insights. https://chinamktginsights.com/douyin-has-become-a-key-promotion-platform-for-movies

Zhao, L., & Ye, W. (2023). Making laughter: How Chinese official media produce news on the Douyin (TikTok). Journalism Practice, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2023.2199720