Who Benefit from What Media? Examining Knowledge Gap Hypothesis on
Environmental Knowledge In China
Abstract
Environmental knowledge inequality is a barrier to address environmental
issues. This study explores the role of media use in environmental
knowledge gap in China, and the empirical evidence is analyzed by using
the secondary data from Chinese General Social Survey. OLS regression
and heterogeneity analysis revealed that internet use increases
environmental knowledge gap; radio use reduces environmental knowledge
gap between people with higher and lower levels of education. Newspaper
and television use have limited influence on environmental knowledge
acquisition. However, newspapers and television are more beneficial for
people with lower levels of education, but not those with higher levels.