What the study found
The study found that Chinese Central Television (CCTV) and Cable News Network (CNN) framed the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake in different ways shaped by their journalistic cultures. CCTV emphasized Chinese rescue efforts and Chinese benefactors, while CNN emphasized the suffering of distant victims and presented studio anchors and experts as detached observers.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these differences reveal contrasting national approaches to international humanitarianism. They suggest the U.S. frames distant suffering within a liberal humanitarian imaginary that emphasizes moral obligation, while China constructs a narrative of benevolent power to legitimize its emerging role in global humanitarianism.
What the researchers tested
The article examined how journalistic cultures in China and the U.S. shaped media discourses on the Turkey-Syria earthquake. It used multimodal analysis and critical discourse analysis to compare CCTV and CNN coverage.
What worked and what didn't
CCTV coverage focused on scenes of suffering while centering the actions of Chinese rescue teams and other Chinese benefactors. CNN coverage directly portrayed victims' pain and included studio anchors and experts analyzing the disaster's broader impact from a more detached position.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not provide sample size, time period, or detailed coding procedures. It also does not describe any limitations beyond the scope of comparing CCTV and CNN coverage of this single disaster.
Key points
- The study compared CCTV and CNN coverage of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.
- CCTV emphasized Chinese rescue efforts and Chinese benefactors amid suffering.
- CNN emphasized the suffering of victims and used detached studio commentary.
- The authors link the differences to contrasting journalistic cultures.
- The authors say the findings point to different national approaches to international humanitarianism.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Chinese and U.S. media framed the earthquake differently
- Authors:
- Yan Yi
- Institutions:
- East China Normal University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-26
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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