Mapping Media Stakeholders: Observations on European Media Focus on China
By: Mare Ushkovska (CHERN VMG Grantee)

The Argument for Research-Based Journalism on China

The phrase “information is power” has a marked resonance in today’s world, particularly in international relations. Media have evolved into a diplomatic instrument for nations’ soft power and shaping of narratives. In recent years, Chinese media has steadily increased its presence in Europe, such as the Xinhua News Agency opening a European regional office in Brussels in 2004, as well as CGTN (China Global Television Network) delivering news in three major European languages, expanding its reach and influence across the continent. Simultaneously, over the past decades, European media organisations have increasingly allocated more resources into covering news and stories on China. Many of them have dedicated desks and reporters to China-related topics, underscoring the growing relevance of China as an international player on the European continent. Academic researchers could and should play a more prominent role in contributing to research-based journalism on China, above all in light of the rising diffusion of disinformation across some online platforms.

Sharing academic research with the media and wider public holds multifaceted benefits. By disseminating findings through accessible channels, such as newspapers, websites, or television programs, research becomes demystified, empowering individuals to engage with evidence-based knowledge. Moreover, this dissemination facilitates the translation of complex ideas into understandable narratives, bridging the gap between academic jargon and layman’s terms. Additionally, increased visibility amplifies the impact of research, potentially influencing public policy, fostering innovation, and inspiring further inquiry. Ultimately, sharing academic research with the media and wider public not only enriches public discourse but also strengthens the societal relevance and applicability of scholarly endeavors.

The research activities undertaken during the virtual mobility focused on mapping media stakeholders in European countries that have a professional interest in reporting on China-Europe relations. The outputs aimed at contributing to CHERN’s dissemination objectives and promoting the exchange of knowledge between academia, media, practitioners, and the wider public. This is particularly relevant as the COST Action is coming to a close, and follow-up activities are underway, such as the initiative of Working Group 4 to organize online briefings for journalists on timely China-related topics. Namely, the database of journalists will represent a key source of invitees for the upcoming series of webinars organised by CHERN, which should give an opportunity for CHERN researchers to pitch their research findings, stories, or opinion pieces to journalists, so as to transfer part of CHERN’s expertise into the mainstream media.

This aligns with the defined capacity building objectives of CHERN to:
– pool the current body of interdisciplinary and cross-regional research and knowledge on China’s deepening economic, social and political engagements with Europe (including non-EU member states)
– place the network members in a position to be able to share their observations and findings of the policy implications of these developments with relevant agencies from the EU, national and local governments, business, trade unions and other interested parties.
– communicate with the general public (through the media and online fora) about these issues via targeted workshops, ‘webinars’, stakeholder meetings, invited talks and presentations
– ensure the exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices throughout Europe.

Main Observations from Mapping Media Stakeholders

The mapping of media stakeholders was done through systematic data collection to identify media and journalists with a professional interest in reporting on contemporary international affairs and a focus on China in Europe, be it through the perspective of business news, tech and innovation, or with an international politics and security dimension. Data was collected by methodically and diligently sifting through all main newspapers, broadcasters, online news outlets, and news agencies in a selection of European countries for names and personal contacts of journalists specialising in coverage of international news and Asia in general, and of China in particular. Finally, a repository of these relevant journalists & media outlets was created and expanded, comprising of about one hundred and fifty contacts of individual journalists and seventy general contacts from around fifty-five different media.

Eighteen European countries were included in this mapping exercise, comprised of both EU and non-EU members, namely Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkiye, and the United Kingdom. While many of the media outlets included in the mapping exercise provide reporting in English as either a first or second language, the database also included media stakeholders that primarily report in fifteen other European languages, thus expanding the reach of markets and audiences.

Several interesting observations came to light during the data collection process. First, the focus on China in European media is varied, and involves reporting on an assortment of topics. News outlets, nevertheless, tend to prioritise coverage of China’s foreign policy, economy and investments, and technological innovation, over reporting on education, migration, and culture. There are no significant differences across countries, however, when it comes to issues of interest for media, as stories relating to trade relations, technological advancements, geopolitical influence, human rights, territorial disputes, or contemporary security issues are equally present among media stakeholders in different countries.

Second, the breadth and depth of coverage of China in European media is not uniform across Europe. UK media seem to boast the largest number of journalists who are either based in bureaus in Chinese cities reporting for the European market or have a niche interest in Asian/Chinese current developments. Numerous reporters focusing on stories involving China in Europe are also present in French, German, and Spanish media. Alternatively, many editors and journalists from outlets and channels across these and other European countries are not exclusively concentrated on current developments concerning China; however, they are interested in reporting on China or receiving pitches on China-related topics if those topics correspond with the current news cycle.

Third, there was a notable distinction between those media stakeholders that create the stories and those that share the stories. Media organizations in larger Western European countries, such as the United Kingdom (BBC, The Independent, The Guardian, Financial Times, The Economist), France (Le Monde, Le Figaro, France 24), Spain (El Pais, La Razon) Germany (Handelsblatt, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit), The Netherlands (De Volkskrant , Het Financieele Dagblad, Trouw), Italy (Corriere della Sera), and Ireland (The Irish Times) all have China-based correspondents as part of their journalistic teams, or in-house reporters with a dedicated focus on China-related news. Consequently, these news outlets provide originally-written reports, investigative journalism with China-specific expertise, and timely on-the-ground reporting.

Conversely, news agencies, broadcasters, and online platforms in smaller countries, particularly those in Central Europe and the Balkans, frequently source their international news coverage from some of the abovementioned transnational media. Reporters in these countries primarily focus on national news and stories of local or regional importance, as these would otherwise not get coverage from foreign media, allocating significantly fewer resources to their international desks, which rarely include correspondents in other countries. Instead, journalists share and cite reports on key international news, including stories on China, as published by their colleagues in influential media in the USA, UK, Belgium, or Germany, translated in their national language and adapted for their audiences.

The discrepancy in media practices when reporting on global news demonstrates that media resources vary widely across European countries due to differences in population size, economic prosperity, media market structures, and government support for media. Wealthier and more populous countries typically have larger media markets with greater resources allocated to journalism, including funding for investigative reporting, be it in state-owned broadcasters or private media outlets. In contrast, smaller or developing countries may have fewer resources available for media, resulting in smaller and less diverse media landscapes.

Concluding Remarks

Leveraging media channels and connections presents a powerful avenue for the dissemination and amplification of the outputs and activities of CHERN. By strategically involving journalists from major news outlets and broadcast channels in Europe and selectively inviting them to network webinars, the Action can ensure broader coverage and visibility, as well as continued engagement beyond the lifetime of the Action. The evolving landscape of media and its role in international relations underscores the importance of research-based journalism, particularly concerning China. Communicating with media stakeholders would not only enable CHERN members to disseminate and publish CHERN outputs through op-ed contributions, interviews and media commentary, but would also help bridge the gap between academia and the general public. Moreover, it amplifies the impact of research, potentially influencing public policy.

By identifying journalists and news outlets with a professional interest in reporting on China-related topics, this virtual mobility project aimed to provide a database of relevant media stakeholders so as to enhance CHERN dissemination efforts and promote knowledge exchange between academia, media, practitioners, and the wider public. This initiative aligns with CHERN’s capacity building objectives, including pooling interdisciplinary research, engaging with relevant agencies, and communicating with the general public. The mapping exercise revealed diverse patterns in media coverage of China across European countries, highlighting variations in focus, depth, and resources.

Thus, it is important to remember when planning online briefings with media representatives of specific countries, to adjust expectations and the approach of inviting participants to that country’s media landscape. Media across Europe differ in both in terms of specialisation of their journalistic teams on China-related issues and in the capacity to produce own reporting on international affairs. In many smaller European the target group for the webinars would involve reporters who cover international news in general, without a specific concentration on China topics. Yet, precisely for this reason, the series of CHERN online media briefings could prove to be invaluable, as they would bring research-based, original stories directly to the media stakeholders who might otherwise rely on reusing reports from large transnational media.

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