Podcast: Western media bias against China

I came upon this interesting podcast while doing research for the first paper a few weeks ago. Many Chinese nationals and Chinese Americans feel like victims of Western media bias. Back in 2008, even I felt like there was an inordinate amount of bias in reporting the Tibetian unrest and the Beijing Olympic Games.

This discussion acknowledges that a certain amount of bias against China exists in Western media. However, it also points out that this bias isn't necessarily created intentionally. For example, there is often miscommunication between the correspondent reporting in China and the editor at headquarters in the home country. The headlines and wording of articles are chosen by the editor for dramatic effect but don't always reflect the true nature of the story, misleading audiences and introducing a negative, biased view.

A few other causes are discussed more in depth in the podcast. From an objective point of view, I found it extremely informative. And as a Chinese American who has personally felt China being victimized by American media, the discussion appeased me by presenting the account from multiple new perspectives. It opened my eyes and made me realize that it's naive, if not a little egocentric, to feel victimized by the media. The media isn't "out to get" anyone - extracting the most exciting and eye-catching elements of a story is simply the nature of news.

Download the podcast to your ipod...it's definitely worth a listen!

-Annie-