Co-governance, Co-assistance, and Common Concern: A Discourse-Historical Analysis of Chinese Sturgeon Release News in Mainstream Media

Abstract

This study employs the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA) as an analytical framework to examine the content and discursive strategies of Chinese sturgeon release reports in China from 2017 to 2024. It then discusses the historical changes in Chinese sturgeon conservation discourse and its construction methods. The findings reveal that compared to the period from 2017 to 2020, the period from 2021 to 2024 showed increased attention to contents of  “policy support” and “habitat and natural reproduction.” At the level of discursive strategies, there were additional terms such as “commercial fishing” and “tracking management,” as well as predicates like “breed” and “hope” that express specific actions and emotional expressions. More authoritative sources were selected, but the views of ordinary people were not adequately considered. Based on this, the study suggests that subsequent related reports should include the elements of “Comprehensive Regulation,” “Diversified Participation,” and “Concern for Chinese Sturgeon.” The research aims to help relevant media more effectively promote China’s efforts to save the endangered Chinese sturgeon and encourage more people to engage in ecological protection work.