Comparative Analysis Of International Media Reporting On China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

A key and pioneering project of the "Belt and Road Initiative",the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC)is seen as the framework and manifesto for comprehensive and fundamental cooperation between China and Pakistan.The CPEC project promotes economic growth and free commerce between the two nations.However,it has dramatically increased the number of work options,educational prospects,and quality of life for locals.The investment in Pakistan’s transportation,infrastructure,and energy projects has increased by over $60 billion.Pakistan would present a new potential for economic growth due to the CPEC projects,which would simultaneously attract the attention of the world media,focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of the ongoing initiatives.Examining international news stories reported on by a wide variety of reputable media outlets worldwide will serve as the basis for this study’s investigation into how the global media covers the CPEC.The study "Comparative Analysis of International Media Reporting on ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC)" will make an effort to understand how the media from three countries(Voice of America VOA,China Radio International CRI,and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation PBC)have framed the CPEC regarding the issues of trade development and economy,regional peace and security,employment opportunities,and whether the coverage is in favor of or against the CPEC project.It will also examine the similarities and differences among the media reporting on the project.This will look at it from three angles,including a promising,unsupportive,and neutral approach to CPEC and connected issues.The study’s significant hypotheses will be that the CPEC has a positive frame in Pakistani media,a positive edge in Chinese media,and a nearly negative or neutral frame in US run media outlet.Framing and agenda-setting theories guided the researcher to answer the following research questions: How the PBC,CRI and VOA portrayed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor? What is the thematic focus of VOA,CRI and PBC’s coverage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor? How are the news narratives of VOA,CRI and PBC structured in their coverage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor?What national relations are reflected behind the framing of the coverage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by the Voice of America VOA,China Radio International CRI and Pakistani broadcaster PBC? What are the reporting tendencies of VOA,CRI and PBC in terms of structure and attitude?The study used content analysis methodology and applied both quantitative and qualitative methods.224 news stories are reported on the official online platforms of the chosen broadcast media helped the researcher analyze the weightage,tones,and themes in the news stories/reports about CPEC.Finally,the study findings statistically revealed the positive agenda of the media in Pakistan and China,while Western media emphasized much on the security consequences in its news stories.Therefore,from the findings,the researcher suggests covering CPEC in media on a factual basis.Based on the findings,the study concluded that reporting on CPEC by China and Pakistan clarifies the importance of CPEC for both countries.