Overseas Coverage and Local Reactions: A Case Study of Media Coverage, Translation, and Conflict

In a cross-cultural context where marginal voices in a non-dominant language can be easily ignored, media discourse targeted at international audiences can be a powerful tool to influence global public opinion. Though the significance of balanced treatment of different sources and perspectives in the domestic media of a particular country has drawn academic attention, the social impacts and ethical issues of global media coverage of local affairs in a cross-boundary context have not yet been given due consideration. This article examines excerpts of Tibet-related media coverage in the first half of 2008 from Western news outlets, whose controversial content or conflict-generating discourse had been made known to Chinese citizens by different sources of information. Information on the subsequent reactions of Chinese nationals as well as the Chinese perspective on the controversial notion of historical Tibet has also been provided in order to give a better understanding of the conflicting ideologies. In doing so, the author intends to contribute to research on the cross-cultural dimension and ethical implications of media coverage of conflict and the role of translation in the dissemination and reception of external media coverage of internal affairs in a cross-boundary context.