Topical and emotional expressions regarding extreme weather disasters on social media: a comparison of posts from official media and the public

This study investigates how official media in China reported the July 2021 Zhengzhou flood and how the public responded on Weibo, comparing posts during the emergency response and post-crisis learning periods. Topic modeling (LDA) and emotion analysis reveal differences in topics and emotions between official media and public comments, with limited coherence. Official media focused on facts during the emergency, while the public expressed help appeals and emotional support. After the accountability report, media covered the investigation and punishment, while public comments remained emotional, praising the good and condemning the bad. The dominant emotion from official media shifted from "like" to "depression," while anger prevailed in public comments throughout.

Ziqiang Han, Mengfan Shen, Hongbing Liu, Yifan Peng