Heroes In White Coats: Media Framing of Physicians in China Daily’s Pandemic Coverage

Sun Wen, Malia Taibi, Siti Haslina Hussin, Ammar Redza Ahmad Rizal

Abstract


This study examines how China Daily, China's leading English-language state newspaper, framed doctors during the pandemic coverage pandemic using Ghanem's multidimensional framing framework. Employing a mixed-method content analysis, 286 news articles published in 2020 were systematically analysed across four framing dimensions: presentation, topic, cognitive, and affective attributes. The findings reveal a systematic framing pattern that elevated physicians' (also known as doctors) visibility through prominent news placement, extensive use of official sources, and sustained editorial attention. Thematically, coverage centred on doctor-patient harmony, medical professionalism, and collective efforts to combat the pandemic. Cognitively, health workrs such as physician were constructed through seven dominant archetypes, most prominently as authoritative leaders, selfless heroes, and dedicated professionals who embodied competence, sacrifice, and national responsibility. Affectively, reporting was overwhelmingly positive (98.3%), reinforcing their moral legitimacy while cultivating public confidence in China's healthcare system and governmental response. These framing dimensions operated as an integrated narrative system that strengthened institutional trust and supported China's international public diplomacy during a global health crisis. This consistently positive portrayal left limited room for doctors' psychological burdens, workplace risks, and professional challenges. The study demonstrates that framing operates not as isolated textual devices but as an interconnected process through which state media construct professional legitimacy and shape public understanding during crises. By extending Ghanem's multidimensional framing framework to the context of health communication, this research contributes to framing theory and offers practical insights into the role of state-led media in representing healthcare professionals during public health emergencies.

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References


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