State-Press relations revisited: A case study of how American media portray postwar Vietnam. Asian Journal of Communication (original) (raw)

Abstract

This study revisited the state-press relations theory by analyzing the coverage of Vietnam over the 30 years between 1980 and 2009 in two leading U.S. news magazines, Time and

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What explains the unchanged portrayal of Vietnam in U.S. media post-diplomatic normalization?add

The study finds that the portrayal of Vietnam in American media remained static from 1980 to 2009, despite normalized relations in 1995, showing no substantial difference in tone or ideological labeling across periods.

How did the choice of media sources affect Vietnam's coverage in U.S. news?add

Research indicates that American sources dominated the coverage, appearing in 94% of articles both before and after normalization, while only 5% featured Vietnamese sources, reflecting a strong ethnocentric bias in American media.

What impact did media framing have on public perception of Vietnam?add

The study revealed that human interest frames were consistently predominant over 30 years, indicating that such framing may shape public perception without aligning with the U.S. government's evolving stance.

In what ways did coverage of Vietnam differ before and after 1995?add

Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the use of frames or valence, with only the comparison frame increasing notably post-1995, suggesting limited evolution in media narratives.

Why is the state-press relations theory inadequate for U.S.-Vietnam media coverage?add

The findings suggest the press did not echo governmental views consistently, contradicting the theory's typical expectations, especially regarding the portrayal of longstanding, low-salience foreign relations.

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