Research On The China-related Reports In The New York Times And The Washington Post

At present, China and the United States is the representative State in Socialist camp and Capitalist camp respectively. With the rise of China in the international community, The United States'conflicting emotions towards China is growing all the time. The United States not only seeks cooperation with China, but also looks for chances to suppress China; not only loves China, but also hates China. The complex mood of the United States towards China plays in American mass media is thoroughly and vividly. Not surprisingly, today, American mass media are still the forceful way to construct the world impression. American mass media, especially some traditional and reputable newspapers, have high influence throughout the world. These newspapers are becoming the frontiers of constructing the image of China and handling Sino-US relations gradually.Under this background, this paper analyzes nearly one thousand China-related reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post in 2009, by stylebook analysis, frames summary and comparison analysis, framing process analysis, and the relationship of media frames and national image analysis. This paper not only makes a brief survey of China-related reports research both at home and abroad, but also introduces a novel framing analysis methods based on this survey. The paper utilize nearly one thousand samples of China-related reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post in 2009 to summarize, think and use frames of the image of China that involved in American main-stream media. In order to discuss the main content of this paper---the China-related reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post reasonable and properly, I partition off this paper into three parts and seven chapters which including"Introductory","Main body"and"Summary".In Introductory, firstly, I connect the present situation of the China-related reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post with Sino-US relations and the image of China, and then find the research background and meaning of this subject---the image of China in American main-stream media. Secondly, I summarize literatures of the researches that involving China-related reports in paper media in western countries including the United States, and summarize and compare the current situation and characteristic of these researches both at home and abroad. Hence comes the dimension of this paper, and then introduce the framing analysis methods, summarizing and analyzing the four research directions and two research approaches. At last, in order to make the main body scientifically and reasonable, I set up a tight and proper paper framework, using this pictorial approach shows the formwork of this dissertation.Chapter 1 focus on the China-related reports in The New York Times in 2009. I take thematic classification method, and analyze three themes reports that include political theme, economic theme, and religious theme. Except the religious theme reports has the most negative approach, I do not find this fact in the other two themes. The China-related reports in The New York Times have proved to be objective on the whole. But in these China-related reports, the framing construction methods are slanted. These China-related reports mainly construct a special image of China: although China has gained some obvious improvements, and become a threat to the US, some contradicts and problems are inevitable, The New York Times shows a remarkable"Lookers-on see more than the players"attitude towards China.Chapter 2 focus on the China-related reports in The Washington Post in 2009. I take page classification method, and analyze two pages reports that include the front page news and"Reports From China"supplement page. In research process, I do not find the China-related reports in The Washington Post in 2009 demonize China. Although the framing construction methods are slanted too, and the negative characteristic in title selection is obvious. The Washington Post also constructs a"China advance"frame. Of course, the existence of"Reports From China"supplement page shows the principles of justice and balance in The Washington Post.The main task of Chapter 3 is to summarize and compare the conclusion of several cases analysis, and compare the framing construction methods and the framing construction contents in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Chapter 3 not only summarizes the main frames of China-related reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post in 2009, but also compares the two newspapers. Finally, I come to this conclusion: There is a essence below the surface that there are some notable difference of the news sources and news starting point, which is the China-related reports frames in The New York Times and The Washington Post have the same nature.In Chapter 4, I start with the theoretical preconditions of framing analysis, and with the chief content of the construct process of China-related reports frames in American media, I trace the origin of the research findings, and then, find the root of the research findings. The chief contents of this Chapter include media framing theoretical foundation, constructing process and influencing factors of media frames, the role and the evaluation of media frames. At last, I consider that media frames are prevalent and neutral; perfect media frame does not exist, the active and negative functions of media frames are go hand in hand; we should treat media frames rationally and learn to have media frames work for us.In Chapter 5, with the main content of the relationship of American main-stream media and the image of China, I first define the national image, and discuss the evolution of the image of China in American main-stream media. Meanwhile, I sum up the image of China in American media of this paper, and conclude five images of China in American main-stream media, including the rapid development of China, the prompting fears from China, the problems of China, and the arbitrariness of China. In order to make sense to the study of the image of China in American media, I analyze the influence of the image of China in American main-stream media, and then I also analyze the negative image of China in American main-stream media and find the root of the forming of the negative image.In the part of Summary, I not only take a broad overview of this paper, but also summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the paper from the perspective of research methods'scientific nature and research contents'comprehensive nature. At last, considering the present situation of studies and the existing problems, I make some suggestions about framing analysis of China-related reports.