The evolution of the digital economy is of transformative significance for enhancing a nation’s comprehensive strength and its global competitiveness. In the digital age, scholars need to study the potential of the digital economy under media attention, examining its role in promoting corporate reputation and improving business competitiveness driven by its underlying mechanisms and merits. This study selects companies listed on the Chinese A-share market as its research sample, investigating the mechanisms by which the digital economy influences corporate reputation under media attention. The findings indicate that the digital economy, catalyzed by media attention, contributes to enhancing corporate reputation, and establishes a pathway via green innovation within the framework of the “dual carbon” strategy. Furthermore, it is found that the role of the digital economy in enhancing corporate reputation under media attention is more pronounced for state-owned and heavily polluting enterprises. This research sheds light on the microeconomic effects of digital economy development, offering new paths for businesses to bolster their reputation against the backdrop of a thriving digital economy.