Cross-Cultural Media Framing: U.S. vs. Chinese Coverage on Gun Violence

• In Event: Poster Session: Political Communication 1 & Politics, Literature, and the Arts
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Political Communication 1

Abstract

With gun violence rising in the United States in the last decades, communication research on media coverage of such events has grown as well, exploring the media's role in shaping public opinion on guns and gun violence (Haenschen & Tedesco ,2020; McKeever et al., 2022). Moreover, the influence of cultural and national backgrounds on media frameworks has also been explored. The American media's focus on gun culture and individual rights, as discussed by Esposito & Finley (2014), contrasts with the Chinese media's emphasis on social harmony and law enforcement. The framing of gun violence incidents based on the perpetrator's nationality has been explored to some extent as well (Silva, 2020), providing insights into the differing approaches of American and Chinese media.

However, these studies have not fully explored a direct comparative analysis of media reports from both countries on identical incidents, and with differing ethnicities of perpetrators. This oversight is significant, as such events are not only pivotal in the gun-violence debate but also in cross-cultural communication processes, which shape how one country is perceived in the media and public opinion of another.

To comprehensively address these research gaps, our study will be grounded in a dual-theoretical framework. Firstly, we will employ media framing theory (Scheufele, 1999) to dissect and categorize the framing strategies used by media in both countries. Secondly, we will integrate theories of nation branding, public diplomacy, and soft power (Kaneva, 2011) to interpret how these framing strategies reflect and influence the international perception and relations between the U.S. and China, to address implications within the broader context of cross-cultural communication and international relations. Specifically, we ask:
RQ: How does coverage of gun violence incidents changes in respect to a) country in which the media is located, b) in relation to the perpetrator's ethnicity, and c) the interaction of the two?”

Methodologically, this study employs content analysis, in 2x2 design to a) examine media coverage of gun violence in the United States and China and b) two specific incidents: one involving a Chinese perpetrator and another involving a Caucasian one. Data is retrieved from top U.S. media outlets and prominent Chinese media organizations. Using existing research (DeJong et al., 2021; McGinty et al., 2014) a coding scheme has been developed for the comparison of media framing strategies in the four corpora (2 countries * 2 events). This coding scheme includes an examination of various aspects of media framing, from the thematic emphasis in coverage (such as conflict frames, responsibility frames, cultural identity frames or human-interest frames), to the portrayal of perpetrators (such as emphasis of ethnicity or psychological profile), and contextual details (such as references to gun culture, the mental health crisis, societal reactions, and systemic failures).

The urgency and relevance of this study are paramount in an era marked by global interconnectedness and the influential role of media in shaping international public opinion. This study is not just a significant addition to the body of literature on gun violence and cross-cultural communication; it is a vital step towards comprehending how narratives in different cultural contexts shape and reflect international perceptions, potentially influencing policy and international relations. In doing so, it underscores the power of media in the global arena and the importance of nuanced, cross-cultural perspectives in understanding and addressing key societal issues.

References:
Esposito, L., & Finley, L. L. (2014). Beyond gun control: Examining neoliberalism, pro-gun politics and gun violence in the United States. Theory in Action, 7(2).
Haenschen, K., & Tedesco, J. C. (2020). Framing the youth-led movement for gun violence prevention: How news coverage impacts efficacy in generation Z, millennials, and gen X. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 25(4), 653-675.
Kaneva, N. (2011). Nation branding: Toward an agenda for critical research. International Journal of Communication, 5, 25.
McKeever, B. W., Choi, M., Walker, D., & McKeever, R. (2022). Gun violence as a public health issue: Media advocacy, framing and implications for communication. Newspaper research journal, 43(2), 138-154.
Scheufele, D. A. (1999). Framing as a theory of media effects. Journal of communication, 49(1), 103-122.
Silva, J. R. (2021). The news media's framing of mass shootings: Gun access, mental illness, violent entertainment, and terrorism. Russ. J. Econ. & L., 332.
McGinty, E. E., Webster, D. W., Jarlenski, M., & Barry, C. L. (2014). News Media Framing of Serious Mental Illness and Gun Violence in the United States, 1997-2012. American Journal of Public Health, 104(3), 406–413.

Authors

• Jiaqin Pan

• Dror Walter, Georgia State University