Presentation of China’s National Image in Foreign News Media

Abstract

The article aimed to analyze the presentation of China’s national image through China related reports in BBC news website in the UK and CNN news website in the USA. The research utilized descriptive and qualitative approaches that used thematic, stylistic and content analyses to analyze the themes, content, and emotional tone in foreign news reports on China. Results of the data analysis showed that the common themes were on economic, healthcare, politics, sports and social issues. Stylistic devices like lexical, rhetorical, and syntactic strategies were used dominantly by journalist. A rising China, a cooperative China, a competitive China and a mysterious China were presented in foreign news media. Nonetheless, the emotion tone about China tends to be more negative than neutral or positive. Results would serve as a reference to better understand the international community’s perceptions of China, and ultimately cultivate awareness of international understanding through cross-cultural communication.