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Image, Reality and Media Construction

A Frame Analysis of German Media Representations of China

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Fengmin Yan

    1. Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

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  • Presents how news media construct social issues and events and thereby convey certain perceptions

  • Investigates the process of image formation from media construction of meaning and human cognitive complexity in perceiving others

  • Proposes a systematic and transparent approach to images in news discourse based on framing theory

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
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  2. Introduction

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 1-17

  3. Changing German Images of China

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 19-40

  4. Media Construction of Social Reality

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 41-63

  5. Research Design

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 65-82

  6. Distribution of Media Attention: Issues and Trends

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 83-91

  7. Qualitative Perspectives: Framing as a Process of Interpretation

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 93-141

  8. Media Framing of Conflicts and Crises

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 143-183

  9. Findings and Discussion

    • Fengmin Yan
    Pages 185-205

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 207-249
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Keywords

About this book

This book explores how news media construct social issues and events and thereby convey certain perceptions within the scope of framing theory. By operationalizing media framing as a process of interpretation through defining problem, diagnosing causes, making moral judgments and suggesting solutions, the book proposes a systematic and transparent approach to images in news discourse. Based on a frame analysis, it examines how German news media framed a list of China-related issues and events, and thereby conveyed particular beliefs and opinions on this country. Moreover, it investigates whether there were dominant patterns of interpretation and the extent to which diverse views were evident by comparing two major daily newspapers with opposite political orientations - the FAZ and the taz. 

Motivated by the relationship between image and reality, the book explores image formation and persistence from media construction of meaning and human cognitive complexity in perceiving others. Media select certain issues and events and then interpret them from particular perspectives. A variety of professional and non-professional factors behind news making may result in biased representations. In addition, from a social psychological perspective, inaccurate perceptions of foreign cultures may arise from categorical thinking, biased processing of stimulus information, intergroup conflicts of interest and in-group favoritism.

Accordingly, whether media coverage deviates from reality is not the main concern of this book; instead, it emphasizes the underlying logics upon which the conclusions and judgments were drawn. It therefore contributes to a rational understanding of Western discourse and holds practical implications for both Chinese public diplomacy and a more constructive role of news media in promoting the understanding of others.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Fengmin Yan

About the author

Dr Fengmin Yan holds a PhD in Media and Communication Studies from the Freie Universität Berlin. She completed her public relations education at Sun Yat‐sen University. Her research interests include media effects on society, cognitive psychology of communication, and research methods in communications studies, and her doctoral research focused on the media construction of social reality and image formation. She is currently investigating topics regarding social media and civic engagement in China and cognitive mechanisms of misinformation processing.   

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Image, Reality and Media Construction

  • Book Subtitle: A Frame Analysis of German Media Representations of China

  • Authors: Fengmin Yan

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9076-1

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-32-9075-4Published: 08 October 2019

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-32-9078-5Published: 08 October 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-32-9076-1Published: 24 September 2019

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIX, 249

  • Number of Illustrations: 3 b/w illustrations, 3 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Media Studies, Media Sociology, Discourse Analysis, Intercultural Communication

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