The press differs from country to country in terms of what it should be and do in society, what it actually is and does in society and the differences between the normative and the empirical. Differing from previous efforts which tackled either normative or empirical differences only, this study will map, measure and model normative-empirical differences through addressing the following five research questions:
RQ1: What are the differences among selected news media in different countries in terms of what the press should be and do in society?
RQ2: What are the differences among selected news media in different countries in terms of what the press actually is and does in society?
RQ3: What are the differences between the normative press and the empirical press?
RQ4: How are normative-empirical differences shaped by their social, economic, political and cultural environments?
RQ5: Is there a central pattern among different scenarios that can be used as a model?
To describe, explain and predict the normative-empirical differences, five dimensions, i.e. social, legal, political, economic and cultural environments, are to be examined in relation to normative-empirical differences. Indicators of each of the five environments are to be worked out and quantified on a scale between 0 and 100 respectively. Social network analysis will be used to map and measure all possible correlations between normative-empirical differences and their shapers.
Posted by Xiaoge 
