9
Regional economic interests are expressed as gain and loss as a result of China’s
WTO entry. Distinctive in regional economic interests, the three regional newspapers are
expected to have different stand in connection with the economic event. H2 will reveal
specifically whether regional economic interests play a role in shaping the news content
of regional newspapers regarding gain and loss as a result of China’s WTO entry.
H3. The more the economic benefits of liberalized trade with China outweigh the
drawbacks for a state, the less references to unfavorable non-economic issues in the
coverage.
The debate between China trade supporters and opponents was characterized by a
divide between economic and non-economic factors (Wheatley, 2001). Supporters looked
to the significant profit to be made from free trade with China, while opponents decried
Chinese human rights abuse, Taiwan crisis and environmental abuse. H3 tests the degree
of association between economic interests and the attention to the non-economic issues.
H4. The more the economic benefits of liberalized trade with China outweigh the
drawbacks for a state, the more favorable the coverage of China’s entry into the WTO.
Those who support China’s accession to the WTO are those who stand to benefit
from the economic advantages represented in the U.S.-China bilateral trade agreement.
Those who oppose represent the potential losers of liberalized trade with China.
Therefore, the favorability of coverage of China’s entry into the WTO by regional
newspapers is expected to link to regional economic interests.
Convention