Media Image And Self-identity Of Regional Ethnic Group Research

The media is a bridge between reality and cognition. The image presented bymedia constitutes the mimicry environment in which people know things. Althoughmedia image is the product of the mass media constructing social real, it does not reallypresent a comprehensive image of a regional ethnic group people have never been to.Such media image not only produces bias and misunderstanding to a local ethnic group,but also has impact on the self-identity of the local ethnic group.This paper is about empirical research using methods like literature research,content analysis, and questionnaire investigation and case interview. Based on thetheory of stereotypes, identity, and framework construction, the paper discusses themedia image and self-identity of the local ethic group in Inner Mongolia and therelationship between them. On one hand, the research analyzes the media imagepresenting by TV. On the other hand, a thorough investigation is conducted on theself-identity of the ethnic group. Through comparing the "media image" and "selfimage", the research explores whether media has influence on the self-identity ofnomadic and what effect it has. The paper provides reference to improve and upgradethe regional image.The most common media herders in Inner Mongolia contact is television whoseprogram types are divided into news, column, and TV play (movie). In these programs,herdsmen media image are mostly about life, culture and economic issues lackingpolitical image. The quality characteristics are given priority to with positive.Characters are mostly young men. The characteristics of the visual symbol are fair buthearing symbol are insufficient. Media image and self image of herdsmen havesimilarities and differences. Although the media issues are the same as what herdsmenconcern and the people age and gender are similar as reality, the characteristicsherdsmen know about themselves are different from media image. Moreover, herdsmenrequire different visual and hearing symbols.At present, some problems exist in the process of shaping image by media. Thecontent of local news is different from national news. The political image of herdsmen is insufficient. The media builds more historical image than modern image of herdsmen.Media image of local ethnic group has the following influence on their self-identity. Thedifference between media image and self image of herdsmen deepens the disagreementwith media image. However, the herdsmen still has strong self-identity and are littleaffected by the outside world. In order to improve the image of the herdsmen’s own, themedia, herdsmen themselves and the government need to make efforts according topertinent suggestions.