US media’s coverage of China’s handling of COVID-19: Playing the role of the fourth branch of government or the fourth estate?

The present study is an analysis of a sample reports on China’s handling COVID-19 by several major US media with focus controversial op-ed the Wall Street Journal. It found that instead covering it objectively as public health crisis, these tend to adopt strategy naming, shaming, blaming, and taming against China. In other words, they seize outbreak in Wuhan opportunity serve Trump’s “America First” doctrine coordinated attempt destroy Chinese dream arresting ascendency. First, naming/shaming technique used tarnish image virus. Journal describes China “the real sick man Asia.” addition, cluster ferociously negative names are slung onto describe coronavirus virus,” Belt & Road Initiative pandemic,” so on. Second, blaming applied. On top such name-calling, blame leadership, political system, finally food culture for eating pangolins. Finally, constrain, isolate, or quarantine One goal behind threat fan American foreign businesses move (back) United States out Another create opinion environment would be conducive some groups’ litigations concluded mainstream while quarreling Trump administration domestic affairs seem colluding conservative intellectual base supporting knock down divide