How Does News Coverage of a Rival Nation Affect People’s Attitudes about Their Own Countries? Evidence from China

Autor: Yating Pan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Social Sciences, Vol 12, Iss 12, p 661 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2076-0760
DOI: 10.3390/socsci12120661
Popis: Mass media are a key source of public news, significantly influencing the accessibility of certain issues through media coverage. While media coverage of rival nations is known to influence public perceptions, its potential impact on citizens’ attitudes toward their own country is less explored. This study addresses this gap by investigating Chinese respondents’ reactions to U.S. news stories related to food safety issues. The research reveals that exposure to negative news stories about a rival nation’s food safety scandal can lead to a more favorable assessment of one’s own government when the domestic government is perceived to be handling a similar issue better. Conversely, positive news about the rival nation’s food safety issues or slightly negative news about a less severe issue diminishes government satisfaction. The findings suggest that the impact of international news coverage on citizens’ views is shaped by comparisons between nations’ performances. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics of international news and its influence on domestic perceptions.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals