The perception of China in the Spanish media

Abstract

Nowadays, the information provided by the mass media plays a leading role in constructing images of a country´s reality. The perception of China spread in Western society and specifically in Spain has become more complex: on the one hand, its economic growth and its increasingly relevant role in international politics have marked the emergence of a superpower; on the other hand, the Asian giant is facing various problems and dilemmas, such as corruption, pollution, and human rights, among others. This means that opinions and representations of the country are transmitted and popularized through the Spanish media, taking into account each and every possible angle to provoke subsequent analysis among the media´s consumer population. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the perception of China in the Spanish media. To this end, specific units of analysis will be used, such as stereotypes, myths, and the main coverage trends.

Keywords:

Perception, Media, Mass, Stereotypes, China.