傲慢与偏见——试论香港回归前后的美国媒体

Pride and Prejudice: An Analysis of the U.S. Media's Hong Kong Coverage Before and After China's Takeover of Hong Kong

以《纽约时报》为代表的美国媒体在报道香港回归中国前后表现出对中国强烈的偏见 ,以及对美国自己的自视甚高。其具体表现是 ,从 1996至 1998年间《纽约时报》上刊载了大量的对香港回归中国后的前途极端悲观的报道。许多文章认为美国应该告诉中国该怎么做 ,并认为美国有“义务”保护香港未来的民主。这种傲慢与偏见与美国人 2 0 0多年来对中国的一贯看法 (如把中国看成一个没长大的孩子等 )以及美国人长期形成的对自己的看法 (如认为自己是“上帝的选民”等 )

The U S. media, as represented by the New York Times , demonstrated their strong prejudice against China during their coverage of Chinas takeover of Hong Kong. In the meantime, the American journalists also showed their sense of self importance. From 1996 to 1998, the New York Times carried many articles expressing pessimism about the future of Hong Kong. Some authors believed that the U S. should teach China what to do and how to do it in Hong Kong. They thought the U S. shouldered the responsibility to safeguard Hong Kongs democracy after its return to Chinas control. This kind of bias and arrogance has much to do with Chinas image in the U S. during the past 200 years and it is also closely related to the Americans perception of themselves.