The Construction Of Chinese International Students’ Media Image(1978-2018)

Chinese international students are undoubtedly a “walking business card” of China because they live abroad.To some extent,they represent China’s national image and become a window for foreigners to know China.In addition to the individual behaviors of Chinese international students,the media also play an important role for shaping their image to display the national image,and even has a profound influence on the cognition of foreigners.Therefore,researching on the Chinese students’ media image has profound meaning and academic value.Based on the framework theory and media bias theory,this study uses content analysis to analyze the reports of Chinese students in the New York Times and People’s Daily from 1978 to 2018.First of all,at a macro level,it examines the bias on Chinese students’ reports in China and American media,then has a comparison of the overall characters on Chinese students’ media image in the two newspapers since the reform and opening up.Secondly,at a micro level,having a specific analysis of the Chinese students in the reports.The study found that for forty years,in the New York Times,Chinese students reports tendency tends to be negative,and the Chinese students’ image are “strangers”under the conflict framework.The Chinese students’ media images are “bumpers”,“insufficient people”,“irrational patriots” and “unsafe people” at various stages in this newspaper,which dominated by negative media images.In the People’s Daily,Chinese students reports tendency tends to be positive,and their image are “Commitment to the nation” under the political framework.The Chinese students’ media image are “People who serve the motherland”,“Patriots”,“Peace lovers”,and “volunteers” at various stages in this newspaper,which dominated by positive media images.Then has a further analysis on the structure of the Chinese students’ media image,which founds some stabilities and changes on the gender,degree,major,country,age and quality in the People’s Daily and the New York Times.In general,the characteristics of the Chinese students’ image have some bias in the two newspapers.The innovation of this research lies in the following aspects: Firstly,having a diachronic study on the Chinese students’ media image,and dividing its development process into four stages,to dynamically show the changing process of its media image.Secondly,having analysis and comparison of the Chinese students from the aspects of gender,age,major,degree,etc.,to further clarify the specific differences on their media image in the China and American media.