CPEC THROUGH THE LENS OF PRINT MEDIA: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS OF PAKISTAN AND CHINA

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating print media’s agenda regarding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), flagship Belt and Road initiative, and a huge development plan between China and Pakistan. For this purpose, researchers collected data from a Pakistani newspaper The News International and a Chinese newspaper Daily China to compare the portrayal of CPEC. Quantitative analysis was used for collection of data, which was collected through purposive sampling. The timeframe of the study is from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2018. The results supported the study’s objectives and hypotheses. It is concluded that both the newspapers covered CPEC; however, The News International published more CPEC-related project stories than China Daily. The former paper published 57 news stories, while the latter published 33. The variables of the study were revenue and economy, services and employment, transport & infrastructure, energy & power, investment and security, debt and economic aid, environmental destruction, cheap labor, ethnic conflict and international, and sovereignty. Study revealed that both newspapers framed the project positively, although some frames were negative.