INDIAN MEDIA AND

COVID-19: IMPACT
ON PUBLIC
PERCEPTIONS OF
CHINA

Alphy Joseph
222701030
DGIR, MAHE
RMG (GEO 703)
22 November 2023
Introduction

• The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted media's critical role in framing narratives.
• As the pandemic unfolded, the dissemination of information through the media had a
significant influence in shaping public perceptions.
• Surveys indicate that the pandemic was followed by a subsequent increase in anti-
China sentiments, especially in many developing countries (Pew Research Centre,
2023).
• Some argue that Indian media’s coverage of China’s handling of the pandemic
provided fuel to the sceptical perception of the country among many in India.
 COVID-19 has not only questioned China’s role as a
responsible power but also tested its relationship with
other states (Papageorgiou & Melo, 2022).

China has effectively restricted the circulation of fake

news during the COVID-19 outbreak whereas India has
had a mixed and chaotic track record in combatting fake
Survey of news (Rodrigues & Xu, 2020).

Literature Rising awareness of COVID-19 triggered a marked rise in

anti-China sentiment on Twitter among
Americans (Cook, Huang & Xie, 2021).

China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has

reinforced the sceptical perception of the country that
prevails in many quarters in India (Madan, 2020).
 Objectives of the Study
To analyse the framing of COVID-19 news
on China in Indian media;

To examine the representation of China in

Indian media’s COVID-19 coverage; and

To assess the influence of Indian media

narratives on public perceptions of China.
Research Methodology
• The study is descriptive in nature and analytical and
deductive in approach.
• The study largely employs qualitative methods such
as content analysis and surveys.
• A representative sampling of Indian media has been
done.
• Triangulation has been incorporated.
• The study uses media theories such as ‘framing
theory’ and ‘agenda-setting theory.’
• The 'cognitive-affective media model' has been used
to understand media’s role in shaping public
perceptions.
Theoretical Framework
• Framing and agenda-setting theory
o Framing theory suggests that the way in
which a piece of information is presented to
an audience (“the frame”) influences how
the audience processes the information
(Erving, 1974).
o Frames point the audience’s attention to
specific elements of a perceived reality by
emphasising them, to manufacture consent
and to mobilise or demobilise support for
the same (Klein & Amis, 2021).
o Framing is closely linked to the concept of
agenda-setting which tells the audience
what to think about, focusing more on the
issue at hand.
Continued...
• Cognitive-affective Media Model
o The cognitive-affective media model analyses how people
use their cognitive abilities to process and interpret
information to engage with media content.
o It highlights how a person's cognitive processes influence
his media interactions through selective perception,
attention, memory, literacy and biases (Nannicelli &
Taberham, 2014).
o The application of the model helps analyse the role played
by individuals’ information processing systems in in shaping
their perceptions on a particular issue.
o The existence of this model in evaluations by public on
perceptions of other countries has been confirmed by
research (Han & Xu, 2021).
Research Findings
 • A focus on narratives surrounding:
o China's handling of the pandemic

Framing of o Origins of the virus

COVID-19 o Censorship

news on o China's public health policies

China in
• A discernible pattern of negative framing has been observed by media
outlets like the Times of India, Swarajya, Republic and Tatva others

Indian Media while others such as The Hindu, Hindustan Times and Indian Express
maintain a neutral stance.
 Source: Tatva

Source: Times of India Source: Times Now

Continued...

Source: Swarajya
Continued...

Source: Zee News Source: Republic

Representation of China in Indian Media's
COVID-19 Coverage
• Negative Framing
• Potential Bioweapon Narrative
• Uncertainty Surrounding Origins of the virus
o Lab Leak Theory
• Criticism of China's Zero Covid Policy
• Portrayal of China's assistance to other countries as
power politics
 Public Perceptions of China during COVID-19 Pandemic

Source: (Upadhyaya, 2023, Perceptions of PRC amid COVID-19 pandemic)

Source: (Upadhyaya, 2023, Perceptions of PRC amid COVID-19 pandemic)
Influence of Indian Media Narratives on
Public Perceptions of China during the
COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis using
Cognitive-affective Media Model
• Attention and Framing
o The overwhelming belief among respondents that China bears
responsibility for the pandemic aligns with the attention given by
the media to factors such as opacity and mismanagement.
o This suggests a direct link between media framing, agenda-setting
and public opinion, reinforcing the cognitive-affective media model.

• Agenda-setting
o The dominant theme in the survey findings, where 67 per cent of
participants held China accountable is linked to the media’s focus
on China’s alleged responsibility.
o This alignment indicates a potent agenda-setting effect, where
media narratives shaped the issues that resonated with the public,
contributing cementing sceptical perceptions.
Continued...

• Priming
o The use of terminology such as “Chinese virus”, “Wuhan virus” and “Made in China pandemic” in media
coverage serve as linguistic markers that prime specific thoughts and associations.
o Analysing survey responses reveals a striking correspondence between the language used in the media and
the terms adopted by respondents.
• Disinformation
o In the context of the survey, the finding that 18.2 per cent of participants subscribed to the belief that the
pandemic might be linked to biowarfare highlights the impact of media narratives on public opinion.
• Cognitive Dissonance
o Mistrust among Indian respondents regarding China’s response to the outbreak with suspicions of
intentionally falsified data point to cognitive dissonance induced by media narratives.
o Media’s portrayal of China’s assistance to other countries as a product of power politics further deepens
this dissonance.
Conclusion

• The cognitive- affective media model helps establish a relationship between Indian
media’s coverage of COVID-19 and the rise in anti-China sentiments among Indians
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The alignment between media attention, framing, agenda-setting and public sentiments
underscores the critical role of media in shaping the cognitive processes and impacting
public perceptions.
• As India navigates its relationship with China, it is imperative to critically assess media’s
role in disseminating information and recognise its potential impact on shaping public
perceptions.
References
• Cook, G., Huang, J., & Xie, Y. (2021). How COVID-19 Has Impacted American Attitudes towards China: A Study on Twitter. Stanford
Center on China's Economy and Institutions.
• Cook, G. G., & Xie, Y. (2021). Large-scale quantitative evidence of media impact on public opinion toward China. Humanities and Social
sciences Communications, 8(181), 1-8.
• Erving, G. (1974). Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organisation of Experience. Harper & Row, New York.
• Foster, J. B., Yates, M. D., Duran, J., & Piercy, M. (2020, September 1). India, COVID-19, the United States, and China. Monthly Review.
• Gabore, S. M. (2020). Western and Chinese media representation of Africa in COVID-19 news coverage. Journal of Communication, 30(5),
299-316.
• Gardener, P. (2020, March 9). Censorship and propaganda obstruct the truth about China's coronavirus outbreak. Newslaundry.
• Han, R., & Xu, J. (2021). The Impact of Pandemic Perception, National Feeling, and Media Use on the Evaluation of the Performance of
Different Countries in Controlling COVID-19 by Chinese Residents. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-13.
• Hart, P. S., Chinn, S., & Soroka, S. (2020). Politicization and polarization in COVID-19 news coverage. Science Communication, 42(5),
679-697.
• Hswen, Y., Xu, X., Hing, A., Hawkins, J. B., Brownstein, J. S., & Gee, G. C. (2021). Association of “#covid19” Versus “#chinesevirus” With
Anti-Asian Sentiments on Twitter: March to November 2020. AJPH Research and Analysis, 111(5), 956-964.
References
• Keyue, X. (2021, May 23). Indian media show double standards in smearing China on virus origin as govt opposes 'India variant'
reference. Global Times.
• Khan, D. (2021, May 7). India cannot breathe. Is the media choking it further? London School of Economics.
• Klein, J., & Amis, J. M. (2021). The Dynamics of Framing: Image, Emotion and the European Migration Crisis. Academy of Management
Journal, 64(5), 1324-1354.
• Lyu, Z., & Takikawa, H. (2022). Media framing and expression of anti-China sentiment in COVID-19-related news discourse: An analysis
using deep learning methods. Institute of Social Science.
• Madan, T. (2020). How is the coronavirus outbreak affecting China's relations with India? Brookings Institution.
• Minwang, L. (2020, May 12). Vitriol in Indian media can only poison relations with China. South China Morning Post.
• Mothkoor, V. (2020, April 22). Covid-19: Impact of Relationship with China and Partner Country on Cases. NITI Aayog.
• Nannicelli, T., & Taberham, P. (2014). Contemporary Cognitive Media Theory: An Introduction. In Cognitive Media Theory. Routledge.
• Papageorgiou, M., & Nogueira de Melo, D. d. S. (2022). China as a Responsible Power Amid the COVID ‑19 Crisis: Perceptions of Partners
and Adversaries on Twitter. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 15, 159-188.
• Pew Research Center. (2023). Unfavorable Views of China Reach Historic Highs in Many Countries. Pew Research Center.
• Rajagopalan, R. P. (2020, April 4). How Is COVID-19 reshaping China-India relations? ORF.
• Rajghatta, C. (2021, May 20). Escape from Wuhan: Coronavirus lab leak theory gains traction - Times of India. The Times of India.
References
• Ravi, S. (2023, February 27). From China to India, US: Media coverage during Covid-19 reveals the power of controlling narrative. The Indian
Express.
• Ravi, S., & Kapoor, M. (2021, July 23). Making waves in India: Media and the COVID-19 pandemic. Brookings Institution.
• Rodrigues, U. M. (2020). Regulation of COVID-19 fake news infodemic in China and India. Media International Australia, 1-7.
• S, M., & Vaishnav, D. (2021, May 14). 'Chinese bioweapon': News channels revive Covid conspiracy theories. Newslaundry.
• Sharma, R. S. (n.d.). The Indian media's failures in covering the COVID-19 crisis. The Caravan.
• Singh, B. (2020, April 16). Media in the Time of COVID-19. Economic and Political Weekly.
• Sinophobia was popular in Chinese language communities on Twitter during the early COVID-19 pandemic. (2023). Humanities and Social Sciences
Communications, 10(488), 1-12.
• The Times of India. (2021, May 20). Escape from Wuhan: Coronavirus lab leak theory gains traction. X.
• Upadhyaya, S. (2023, April 6). Perceptions of PRC amid Covid-19 pandemic. The Takshashila Institution.
• Viswanathan, S. (2021, May 17). China And The Coronavirus: Why The World Needs An Effective Bioweapons Disarmament Regime. Swarajya.
• Widespread Protests Against Zero-Covid Measures Rock China. (2022, November 27). Swarajya.
• The Wire. (2023, July 31). 67per cent Indians Have Negative Opinion About China, the Highest Among 24 Surveyed Countries: Pew. The Wire.
• Yu, Y., Tay, D., & Yue, Q. (2023). Media representations of China amid COVID-19: A corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis. Media International
Australia, 1-15.