主办单位:成都体育学院
ISSN 1001-9154 CN 51-1097/G8

Journal of Chengdu Sport University ›› 2021, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5): 106-112.doi: 10.15942/j.jcsu.2021.05.017

• SPORTS HISTORY AND SPORTS CULTURE COMMUNICATOIN • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Legitimacy Construction: A Framing-discourse Analysis on E-sports News Coverage

LIU Shuangqing1, LIU Xun2   

  1. 1. School of Journalism and Communication, China University of Political Science and Law,Beijing 102249;
    2. School of Law, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100844
  • Received:2020-08-18 Revised:2021-02-28 Published:2021-09-26

Abstract: Using framing analysis and discourse analysis, the present paper examines the trend, frames and discourse practice in e-sports news coverage over the past two decades from 2001 to 2019 and discusses how news coverage has constructedthe legitimacy of e-sports. The results show that positive news coverage one-sports has become the dominant trend over the past 2 decades. Framing analysis reveals that five frames, i.e "unknown territory", "industrial economy", "focus of controversy", "sports events", "industrialtrends"have been used to conceptualize the image and development of e-sports in China, and constructed the image of e-sports in media. Among them, "industrial economy", "sports events", and "industrialtrends"are the major frames have been used to construct the legitimacy of e-sports. Discourse analysis shows that news media have constructed the two main discourses of "industry" and "event"about e-sportsand expressed through such rhetorical devices as metaphor and intertextuality the opinion that e-sports has promoted the development of sports and economy, thereby constructing the legitimacy of e-sports. It is proposed that news media should present the image of e-sports in an objective and comprehensive way. On one hand, the positive image of e-sports should be presented in media to change its social perception of being stigmatized; on the other hand, the shortcomings of e-sports industry should be reported to promote its improvement and standardization.

Key words: e-sports, framing analysis, discourse analysis, legitimacy, social perception

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