Framing the 2011 Egyptian Revolution Within Ideological Boundaries: One Incident, Three Stories

The Greater China area provides a unique context for studying news framing. Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with close geographical and cultural proximity but stark contrast in ideological controls, each represents not free, partly free, and free media system respectively. In reporting the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, news media of these regions constructed the coverage within their own ideology boundaries, especially given their differing stances regarding Beijing’s June 4, 1989 Crackdown of student demonstrations, resulting in differing news stories about the same event. This study compared newspaper coverage of the three regions on the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Framing analysis was conducted in terms of news selection, sourcing pattern, favorability toward the protestors or the Egyptian government, and overall news perspective. Results show significant differences in coverage between contrasting media systems (Mainland China vs Hong Kong & Taiwan). The frames employed in the coverage were interpreted and discussed in the context of ideological difference and press freedom variation. Reasons for these differences and theoretical implications were explored.