韓國媒體對中國報導研究

Abstract

This study analyzed 632 randomly selected articles from one of major Korea newspaper, JoongAng Ilbo, from January, 2000 to November, 2004. The majority of sampled items were news stories (93.2%) and the rest were editorials or opinions.

This study found that China coverage of the newspaper was mostly from its own reporters and correspondents (81.6%), focusing on business news (34%), international relations (20.6%), and domestic politics like changes of government, making new laws, etc. (11.4%). Nearly half of the stories (47.8%) were located in international news page, while 13.9% of items were in international business news page and 5.2% in the front page.

The study also found that overall attitudes of the JoongAng Ilbo toward China were neutral (54.7%), but 33.3% remained as unfavorable. The JoongAng Ilbo tried to provide background information (67.8% with background) and visual effects (43.4% with visuals) to help readers comprehend the news event.

The analysis of descriptive characteristics of China and the Chinese in this newspaper suggested that China was shaping her image as a rapidly growing country and as an economic, cultural, and technological super state, with practical diplomatic strategy. And the Chinese were described as people pursuing prosperity of now and here, and therefore, who were running for money without taking a rest, sticking to money and not revealing one’s real self. Korean media often used “dragon” and “giant” as metaphors of China. And they also used labels such as “world factory,” “warehouse of brains,” and “the paradise of pirated edition” to represent China.

Furthermore, this study found a few recurring themes constructing positive images of China: the economic growth of China and the development of China in technology, cultural, diplomatic fields.

However, with these positive images, China was also projected with negative images. The negative themes can be grouped into five categories: the side-effects of the fast economic growth, economically threatening China, a focus on negative topics such as disasters, accidents, and crimes, the conflict between the United States and China or between the Taiwan and China, and the repressive political systems of China.