The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of online news media of the media of the UK and China. These countries were selected based on the desire to compare their coverages...Show moreThe objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of online news media of the media of the UK and China. These countries were selected based on the desire to compare their coverages on the topic of repatriation of cultural objects. 15 articles were selected for both the UK’s The Guardian and China’s Global Times, resulting in 30 articles total. A coding scheme was created based on tonal indicators, and the articles were coded on a line-by-line basis. The results of the coding were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively and then discussed. The results concluded that both newspapers were pro-repatriation, but for different reasons, with the primary explanation being the historical contexts of both countries, with The Guardian expressing guilt and a desire for reconciliation based on the UK’s imperial legacy, and Global Times expressing distrust, hostility, and a patriotic slant. Surprisingly, the Global Times exhibited a strong desire for future collaboration with the UK and other Western powers, despite its perceived hostility.Show less
In the summer of 2019, over a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a highly unpopular extradition law. Despite the withdrawal of the law, the protests continued for the rest...Show moreIn the summer of 2019, over a million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a highly unpopular extradition law. Despite the withdrawal of the law, the protests continued for the rest of the year, throwing Hong Kong into turmoil, as protesters advocated for freedom and democracy. As a result, the 2019 Hong Kong protests became one of the most heavily covered events in the media, both nationally and internationally. The demonstrations received an especially large amount of attention in Taiwan and China, due to their proximity to Hong Kong and the Chinese government’s involvement in the protests. While Taiwanese politicians came out in support of protesters’ call for independence, the Chinese government’s increased involvement in Hong Kong’s inner affairs served as a catalyst for the protests. This study analyzed the discourse of 24 editorials covering the Hong Kong protests from two newspapers; the Taipei Times (Taiwan) and the Global Times (China). An inductive discourse analysis was utilized to see which linguistic and thematic methods were used by the authors to shape the reader's perception of the protests according to their newspaper’s ideology. Results showed that while the two newspapers’ coverage of the Hong Kong protests could not have been more different thematically, using opposing narratives and arguments, their style and rhetoric had a tendency to overlap, using similar rhetorical methods to get their viewpoints across to the readers.Show less
This thesis looks at the freedom of press in China. A critical discourse analysis is conducted of newspaper articles of the Global Times and the Southern Weekend about the Tianjin harbor explosions.
