Research in media diplomacy often concluded that media took a pro-government stance in covering foreign affairs. This study tested this finding by content analysing the coverage of the Hong Kong 1997 issue by the New York Times, the Times of Britain and the People's Daily of China. The data indicated that the two western newspapers departed significantly from their governments’ respective positions on the issue, while the People's Daily has followed Beijing's stance on the issue all along. The result challenged the viewpoint of ‘media as governments’ cheerleaders’. A more dynamic approach to media diplomacy research is suggested.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ChangT.K. August (1989) ‘The Impact of Presidential Statements on Press Editorial Regarding U.S. China Policy, 1950-1984’Communicaton Research; 16(4): 486–509.
2.
CohenY. (1986) Media Diplomacy: The Foreign Office in the Mass Communication Age. (Frank Cass and Co. Ltd.): 5–23.
3.
CottrellR. (1993) The End of Hong Kong: The Secret Diplomacy of Imperial Retreat. (John Murray): 195–204.
4.
CurryJ.L., & DassinJ.R. (1982) Press Control Around the World; (Praeger).
5.
Department of State, November (1984) U.S. and China reach agreement on Hong Kong (Department of State Bulletin).
6.
DaviesS., & RobertsE. (1990) Political Dictionary for Hong Kong. (Macmillan).
7.
EdelsteinA.S., & LiuA.P.L. (1963) ‘Anti-Americanism in Red China's People's Daily: A Functional Analysis’Journalism Quarterly; 40: 187–195.
8.
EntmanR. (Autumn 1991) ‘Framing U.S. Coverage of International News: Contrasts in Narratives of the KAL and Iran Air Incidents.’Journal of Communication; 41: 6–27.
9.
GrossmanM.B., & KumarM.J. (1981) Portraying the President: The White House and the News Media. (Johns Hopkins University Press).
10.
HallinD.C., (1986) The ‘Uncensored War’: The Media and Vietnam. (University of California Press).
11.
MinersN. (1986) The Government and Politics of Hong Kong.4th ed. (Oxford University Press): 26–7.
12.
NacosB.L., (1990) The Press, Presidents and Crisis. (Columbia University Press).
13.
OliphantC.A., (1964) ‘The Image of the United States Projected by Peking Review’. Journalism Quarterly.41: 416–420.
14.
ParaschosM. (1992) ‘Europe’. In: MerrillJ.C. (ed.), Global Journalism. (Longman).
15.
ShaheenJ.G., (November 1985) ‘Media Coverage of Middle East: Perception and Foreign Policy.’The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. v. 482: 160-175.
16.
ShoemakerP.J., DanielianL.H., & BrendlingerN. (Winter 1991) ‘Deviant Acts, Risky Business and U.S. Interests: the Newsworthiness of World Events.’Journalism Quarterly68(4): 781–796.
17.
TichenorP.J., DonohueG.A., & OlienC.N. (1980) Community Conflict and the Press. (Sage Publication).
