Thread by @vanessa_molter

🚨New post: Propaganda & Pandemics - How Chinese State Media Shapes Conversations on The Coronavirus
cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/news/chinese-s…
We analyzed Facebook data to see how Beijing is using its English-language state media to shape the narrative around coronavirus. Some observations:

1. Beijing wants to make you feel good about coronavirus: While U.S. media write on rising numbers of infections, Chinese state media share positive stories, such as reports of recovered patients.

2. This difference in U.S. mainstream vs. Chinese state media coverage prevails other narratives, for example the story of late whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang. Compare these two word clouds of terms frequently used in Facebook posts on him:

3. Facebook is not the only platform banned in China that the Chinese government uses to shape the narrative around coronavirus: nytimes.com/video/world/as…

4. Chinese state media is also not unique in trying to rewrite the narrative - the Fox News network has been accused to be a "petri dish for misinformation" & criticized for its sudden shift in coronavirus coverage:
washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/medi…

5. In U.S. media, there is now a dichotomy between one side blaming Beijing for its serious missteps in the early coronavirus response and the other blaming the Trump Administration for failing to prepare (whilst highlighting the successes of later Chinese containment efforts).

6. It is both true that the Chinese government made strikingly bad decisions in its early response to the virus - and also that the United States will suffer from its own lack of preparation.

7. While this blame game continues and the U.S. bungles its COVID-19 response (and lacks coordination even with allies), China is supporting hard-hit countries with medical supplies & receiving praise. Expect a more aggressive narrative from Beijing going forward. /End

See also the most recent SIO live discussion with @alexstamos on this topic (+ additional thoughts) pscp.tv/w/1DXGyeLQazNG…