What the study found
The study found that online news coverage of China's Sponge City Program generally aligned with academic research on the program's main functions and challenges. However, the media often did not give detailed nuance about how much the program can reduce flooding.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that online media plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions and influencing decision-making for Sponge City–type approaches. The study suggests that better understanding of flood processes and the program itself is needed to support policy changes.
What the researchers tested
The researchers reviewed 786 online news articles published between 2014 and 2022. They compared media coverage with academic research on the Sponge City Program, which is China's urban water management program for handling rainstorm risks.
What worked and what didn't
Media reports and academic research were aligned on the program's high-level functions, mainly urban water management, along with ecological, socio-cultural, and economic co-functions. They also aligned on major challenges, including financial constraints, technical difficulties, and governance issues. The main shortcoming described was a lack of detail and nuance about the extent of flood mitigation.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations of the review beyond the noted lack of nuance in media coverage. The summary also does not provide article-level details on differences across regions, outlets, or time periods.
Key points
- The review analyzed 786 online news articles from 2014 to 2022.
- News coverage generally matched academic research on the Sponge City Program's main functions.
- Coverage also reflected major challenges such as financial, technical, and governance problems.
- A key gap was limited nuance about how much the program can mitigate flooding.
- The authors say online media can shape public perceptions and decision-making.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- News coverage of Sponge City often matches research but lacks nuance
- Authors:
- Li, Lei, Ives, Christopher D., Carter, Jeremy; id_orcid 0000-0003-1640-3747, Collins, Alexandra M., Adekola, Olalekan, Green, Daniel, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Chan, Faith Ka Shun
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-01
- DOI:
- W7115171180
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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