本研究以「內容分析法」為主，以2008年北京奧運前後一年期間，即2007年到2009年前後共三年的時間作為軸線，挑選中國從事新聞輿論監督的主要媒體之一－《南方周末》的新聞輿論監督類報導進行分析。整體而言，比起2008年8月北京奧運舉辦前的階段，無論從數量、廣度（主要報導區域、主要報導領域、主要報導內容議題、主要監督主體、主要報導客體對象或層級、主要報導議題領域）與力度（監督的直接程度、具體對象之變化狀況、採訪過程的難易程度）上來觀察，在2008年8月北京奧運舉辦後，《南方周末》在新聞輿論監督報導的表現，確實有相當程度上的倒退。
The study is based on “content analysis” to analyze the reports on news supervision by public opinion in one of the major media in charge of news supervision by public opinion in China, “Southern Weekly”, during a period of three years from 2007 to 2009. Overall, when compared with its performance before Beijing 2008 Olympic, the Southern Weekly demonstrated certain withdrawal on news and media supervision from its number, range (major reporting area, topic field, covered issues, supervision bodies, reported objects and levels, and field of reported issue) and vigor (directness of supervision, change in specific object and the challenge of interview process) after Beijing 2008 Olympic.
