Asia in the eyes of Europe Research Workshop, Beijing
Report on media analysis from French-speaking Belgium Introducing the media
Papers: • La Libre Belgique
54500 readers • Le Soir
96000 readers
TV: • RTBF news broadcast
Public service
700000 viewers Part 1: Comparison between the different media 1. Volume of news
Volume of News
Absolute Average per % of total numbers week
La Libre 178 13,7 49,3 Belgique Le Soir 165 12,7 45,7 RTBF 18 1,4 5,0 Total 361 27,8 100,0
5% Volume of news
La Libre Belgique 49% Le Soir 46 % RTBF 2. Distribution of Sources
La Libre Absolute Percentages La Libre Belgique Distribution Belgique numbers of sources percentages International 30 16,5 sources 80,0 Domestic 60,0 124 68,1 sources 40,0 20,0 Unsure / n/a 28 15,4 0,0 Total number of International Domestic sources Unsure / n/a 182 100,0 sources sources
Absolute Percentages Le Soir Distribution of Le Soir numbers sources percentages International 8 0 ,0 35 20,1 7 0 ,0 sources 6 0 ,0 5 0 ,0 domestic 4 0 ,0 124 71,3 3 0 ,0 sources 2 0 ,0 1 0 ,0 Unsure / n/a 15 8,6 0 ,0 International d o m e s tic Unsure / n/a Total number 174 100,0 s o u rc e s s o u r c e s of sources 2. Distribution of Sources
Absolute Percentages RTBF numbers International 0 0,0 sources Domestic 18 100,0 sources
Unsure / n/a 0 0,0
Total number of 18 100,0 sources 2. Distribution of Sources
Percentage La Libre Absolute against total Belgique numbers coverage of La Libre Belqigue percentages of the most frequent Asia news agencies against the total coverage of Asia and its regional organisations Belga (Local 9,0 9 2,5 8,0 news wire) 7,0 6,0 5,0 Agence France 4,0 Press 3,0 28 7,6 (Non-local 2,0 news wire) 1,0 0,0 Belga (Local news wire) Agence France Press (Non-local news wire)
Percentage Absolute against total Le Soir Le Soir percentages of the most frequent news numbers coverage of agencies against the total coverage of Asia and its Asia regional organisations 9,0 8,0 Belga (Local 7,0 6 1,6 6,0 news wire) 5,0 4,0 3,0 2,0 Agence France 1,0 Press 0,0 31 8,4 Belga (Local news wire) Agence France Press (Non-local news (Non-local wire) news wire) 3. Foci of Domesticity
La Libre Absolute La Libre Belgique Focus of domesticity Percentages numbers in percentages Belgique 40,0 35,0 3rd 35 19,7 30,0 25,0 Asia 30 16,9 20,0 15,0 Local 62 34,8 10,0 5,0 regional 51 28,7 0,0 Total 178 100,0 3rd Asia Local regional
Absolute Le Soir Percentages Le Soir Focus of domesticity in numbers percentages 3rd 45 27,3 3 5,0 3 0,0 Asia 34 20,6 2 5,0 2 0,0 Local 53 32,1 15,0 10,0 regional 33 20,0 5,0 0,0 Total 165 100,0 3rd Asia Local regional 3. Foci of Domesticity
Absolute Percentages RTBF Focus of domesticity in percentages RTBF numbers
60,0 3rd 4 22,2 50,0
Asia 3 16,7 40,0
30,0 Local 9 50,0 20,0 regional 2 11,1 10,0 0,0 Total 18 100,0 3rd Asia Local regional 4. Distribution of Degree of Centrality
La Libre Absolute La Libre Belgique Distribution of degree of Percentages Belgique numbers centrality in percentages
80,0 Minor 135 75,8 70,0 60,0 50,0 Secondary 37 20,8 40,0 30,0 20,0 Main 6 3,4 10,0 0,0 Total 178 100,0 Minor Secondary Main
Le Soir Distribution of degree of centrality in Absolute Percentage percentages Le Soir numbers
90,0 Minor 132 80,0 80,0 70,0 60,0 Secondary 28 17,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 Main 5 3,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 Total 165 100,0 Minor Secondary Main 4. Distribution of Degree of Centrality
Absolute Percentages RTBF Distribution of degree of centrality in RTBF numbers percentages
Minor 12 66,7 70,0 60,0 50,0 Secondary 5 27,8 40,0 30,0 Main 1 5,6 20,0 10,0 0,0 Total 18 100,0 Minor Secondary Main 5. Distribution of evaluation
La Libre Absolute La Libre Belgique distribution of Percentages Belgique numbers evaluation in percentages
90,0 Neutral 141 79,2 80,0 70,0 60,0 Positive 19 10,7 50,0 40,0 30,0 Negative 18 10,1 20,0 10,0 0,0 Total 178 100,0 Neutral Positive Negative
Absolute Le Soir Percentages Le Soir distribution of evaluation in numbers percentages
Neutral 132 80,0 100,0 80,0 Positive 12 7,3 60,0 40,0 Negative 21 12,7 20,0 0,0 Total 165 100,0 Neutral Positive Negative 5. Distribution of evaluation
Absolute Percentages RTBF numbers RTBF distribution of evaluation in percentages
100,0 Neutral 16 88,9 90,0 80,0 70,0 60,0 Positive 0 0,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 Negative 2 11,1 20,0 10,0 0,0 Total 18 100,0 Neutral Positive Negative 6. Framing
La Libre Absolute Percentages Belgique numbers La Libre Belgique frame in percentages
45,0 Development 2 1,1 40,0 35,0 30,0 25,0 20,0 Economy 54 30,3 15,0 10,0 5,0 Environment 10 5,6 0,0 Social affairs 70 39,3 Development Economy EnvironmentSocial affairs Politcs Politcs 42 23,6 Total 178 100,0 6. Framing
Absolute Le Soir Percentages numbers
Le Soir frame in percentages
Development 1 0,6 45,0 40,0 35,0 30,0 25,0 20,0 Economy 42 23,6 15,0 10,0 Environment 9 5,1 5,0 0,0 Social affairs 75 42,1 DevelopmentEconomy EnvironmentSocial affairs Politcs
Politcs 38 21,3
Total 165 92,7 6. Framing
Absolute RTBF Percentages numbers RTBF frame in percentages 60,0
Development 0 0,0 50,0
40,0 Economy 2 11,1 30,0
Environment 1 5,6 20,0
10,0 Social affairs 6 33,3 0,0 Developmentf Economy EnvironmentSocial affairs Politcs Politcs 9 50,0
Total 18 100,0 7. Frame Economy
Economy subframe La Libre Belgique in La Libre percentages Belgique Absolute Percentages Economy numbers 60,0 subframe 50,0
State of Economy 4 7,4 40,0
Agriculture 0 0,0 30,0
Trade 2 3,7 20,0
Industry 30 55,6 10,0
Business/Finance 17 31,5 0,0
Trade Energy 1 1,9 Industry Energy Agriculture
Regional State of Economy Business/Finance 0 0,0 Regional Integration Integration Total 54 100,0 7. Frame Economy
Le Soir Absolute Percentages Economy numbers subframe Economy subframe Le Soir in percentages State of Economy 4 9,5
70,0 Agriculture 0 0,0 60,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 Trade 1 2,4 20,0 10,0 0,0 Industry 26 61,9
Trade Industry Energy Business/Finance 11 26,2 Agriculture
State of Economy Business/Finance Energy 0 0,0 Regional Integration
Regional Integration 0 0,0
Total 42 100,0 8. Actor representation
La Libre Belgique La Libre Belgique actor Absolute Percentages representation in percentages Actor numbers
Representati 90,0 80,0 on 70,0 60,0 Asia 159 84,6 50,0 40,0 South Asia 5 2,7 30,0 20,0 South East Asia 9 4,8 10,0 0,0 East Asia 1 0,5 Asia South South East North Central Asia- Eurasia Asia East Asia East Asia Pacific North East Asia 1 0,5 Asia Asia Central Asia 9 4,8 Asia-Pacific 3 1,6 Eurasia 1 0,5 Total number of actors 188 100,0 8. Actor representation
Le Soir Actor Absolute Percen Representati numbers tages on Le Soir actor representation in percentages Asia 138 81,7
90,0 South Asia 3 1,8 80,0 70,0 South East Asia 9 5,3 60,0 50,0 40,0 East Asia 0 0,0 30,0 20,0 North East Asia 0 0,0 10,0 0,0 Asia South South East North Central Asia- Eurasia Central Asia 16 9,5 Asia East Asia East Asia Pacific Asia Asia Asia-Pacific 3 1,8 Eurasia 0 0,0 Total number of 169 100,0 actors 8. Actor representation
RTBF actor Absolute Percentages representation numbers Asia 16 88,9 South Asia 1 5,6 South East Asia 0 0,0 East Asia 0 0,0 North East Asia 0 0,0 Central Asia 0 0,0 Asia-Pacific 0 0,0 Eurasia 1 5,6 Total number of news 18 100,0 items 8. Actor representation
La Libre Belgique Absolute La Libre Belgique actor actor Percentages numbers representation in percentages representat
ion 16,0 14,0 12,0 ASEAN 3 1,7 10,0 8,0 6,0 4,0 ASEM 25 14,0 2,0 0,0 ASEAN ASEM APEC Asian APEC 3 1,7 Development Bank Asian Development 1 0,6 Bank Total number of 178 18,0 news items 8. Actor representation
Le Soir actor Absolute Percentages representati numbers on Le Soir actor represenation in percentages ASEAN 1 0,6
14,0 12,0 ASEM 19 11,5 10,0 8,0 6,0 APEC 1 0,6 4,0 2,0 0,0 Asian Development ASEAN ASEM APEC Asian 0 0,0 Development Bank Bank Total number of news 165 12,7 items 8. Actor representation
RTBF actor Absolute Percentages representati numbers on
ASEAN 0 0,0
ASEM 6 33,3
APEC 0 0,0
Asian Development 0 0,0 Bank
Total number of news 18 33,3 items 9. Metaphors 1. Asia represents growth (Emergence of Asian markets, Asian Economic Le Soir growth) 2. Europe is often seen as "in competition" with Asia (mostly in an economic context) 1. Asia represents growth (Emergence of Asian markets, Asian Economic growth) 2. Europe is often seen as "in competition" with Asia (mostly in an La Libre Belgique economic context) 3. Positive movement (pulling, pushing...): Asian markets are often sees as stimulating European markets to a higher level
Too little metaphors RTBF Part 2: Comparison by frame
1. Volume of frames
Absolute Percentages numbers Volume of frames in percentages
45,0 Politics 89 24,7 40,0 35,0 30,0 Economy 98 27,1 25,0 20,0 15,0 Social Affairs 151 41,8 10,0 5,0 0,0 Environment 20 5,5 Social Affairs Politics Economy Environment Development 3 0,8 Development
Total 361 100,0 2. Distribution of Sources – Political vs Economic frame Political Absolute Percentages frame numbers Political frame distribution of sources in percentages International 90,0 10 10,9 sources 80,0 70,0 domestic 60,0 72 78,3 sources 50,0 40,0 Unsure / n/a 10 10,9 30,0 20,0 Total number 10,0 of 92 100,0 0,0 sources International sources domestic sources Unsure / n/a
Economic Absolute Percentages Economic frame distribution of numbers frame sources in percentages International 28 28,3 70,0 sources 60,0 50,0 domestic 40,0 65 65,7 sources 30,0 20,0
10,0
Unsure / n/a 6 6,1 0,0 International sources domestic sources Unsure / n/a Total number 99 100,0 of sources 2. Distribution of Sources – Political vs Economic frame
Percentage against total Political Absolute political Political frame percentages of the most frequent numbers frame coverage of news agencies against the total coverage of Asia and its regional organisations Asia 12,0
10,0
Belga 4 4,5 8,0
6,0
4,0 Agence 2,0 9 10,1 France Press 0,0 Belga (Local news wire) Agence France Press (Non-local news wire)
Percentage against Economic frame percentages of the most frequent Absolute Economic total news agencies against the total coverage of Asia and number political its regional organisations frame s 30,0 coverage 25,0 of Asia 20,0 15,0 10,0 Belga 4 4,1 5,0 0,0 Belga (Local news wire) Agence France Press (Non-local news wire) Agence France 28 28,6 Press 3. Focus of domesticity – Political vs Economic frame
Political frame focus of domesticity Political Absolute Percentages in percentages frame numbers 35,0 30,0 3rd 10 11,2 25,0 Asia 25 28,1 20,0 15,0 Local 26 29,2 10,0 5,0 regional 28 31,5 0,0 Total 89 100,0 3rd Asia Local regional
Economic Absolute Percentages Economic frame focus of domesticity numbers Frame in percentage 3rd 28 28,6 50,0 Asia 4 4,1 40,0
30,0 Local 38 38,8 20,0 regional 28 28,6 10,0 0,0 Total 98 100,0 3rd Asia Local regional 4. Distribution of degree of centrality – Political vs Economic frame
Political Absolute Percentages Political frame distribution of degree of numbers frame centrality in percentages
Minor 62 69,7 80,0 70,0 60,0 Secondary 24 27,0 50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 Main 3 3,4 10,0 0,0 Total 89 100,0 Minor Secondary Main
Economic Absolute Economic frame distribution of degree of Percentages centrality in percentages frame numbers 90,0 80,0 Minor 81 82,7 70,0 60,0 50,0 Secondary 16 16,3 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 Main 1 1,0 0,0 Minor Secondary Main Total 98 100,0 5. Distribution of evaluation – Political vs Economic frame
Political Absolute Percentages Political frame distribution of evaluation in frame numbers percentages
Neutral 67 75,3 80,0 Positive 3 3,4 60,0 40,0 Negative 19 21,3 20,0
Total 89 100,0 0,0 Neutral Positive Negative
Economic Absolute Economic frame distribution of evaluation in Percentages frame numbers percentages Neutral 70 71,4 80,0 Positive 24 24,5 60,0 40,0 Negative 4 4,1 20,0 Total 98 100,0 0,0 Neutral Positive Negative 5. Distribution of evaluation – Political vs Economic frame
Economic local regional total percentage frame positive 12 10 22 33,3 negative 1 1 2 3,0 neutral 25 17 42 63,6 total 38 28 66 100,0
•33.3% of the local and regional articles are positive •Only 3% is negative •91.7% of the positive articles in the frame economy are regional or local (22 out of 24) Asia is considered to have a positive economic impact on Belgium and Europe 6. Subframe analysis – Political frame
Political Absolute Percentages Political subframe in percentages subframe numbers 100,0 Internal 21 23,6 80,0 60,0 External 68 76,4 40,0 20,0 0,0 Total 89 100,0 Internal External 7. Subsubframe analysis – Political frame, subframe internal
Political frame, Absolute Percen Political frame, subframe internal subframe numbers tages in percentages internal 60,0 50,0 Elections Kyrgyzstan 3 14,3 40,0 30,0 20,0 Terrorism 2 9,5 10,0 0,0 repressive regime of 3 14,3 Elections Terrorism repressive Japan-China Others Myanmar Kyrgyzstan regime of relations Myanmar Japan-China 2 9,5 relations
Others 11 52,4
Total 21 100,0 7. Subsubframe analysis – Political frame, subframe external
Political Absolute frame, Percentag number subframe es Political frame, subframe external in s percentages external 40,0 35,0 ASEM 24 35,3 30,0 25,0 20,0 Belgian Political 4 5,9 15,0 Crisis 10,0 5,0 EU-China 0,0 6 8,8 Relations ASEM Belgian EU-ChinaObama's G20 EU-US terrorist others Political Relations Asian summit summit in threat Obama's Asian 3 4,4 Crisis tour Lisbon tour G20 summit 3 4,4 EU-US summit in 2 2,9 Lisbon terrorist threat 2 2,9 others 24 35,3 Total 68 100,0 8. Actor representation – Political vs Economic frame
Political Absolute Percentages frame numbers Political frame actor representation in Asia 70 76,9 percentages South Asia 2 2,2 South East 100,0 3 3,3 80,0 Asia 60,0 40,0 East Asia 2 2,2 20,0 0,0 North East Asia South South East Asia North Central Asia- Eurasia 0 0,0 Asia East Asia East Asia Asia Pacific Asia Central Asia 11 12,1 Asia-Pacific 2 2,2 Eurasia 1 1,1 Total number of news 91 100,0 items 8. Actor representation – Political vs Economic frame
Economic Absolute Percentag frame numbers es Economy frame distribution of actors in Asia 85 85,0 percentages South Asia 2 2,0 60,0 South East 50,0 3 3,0 40,0 Asia 30,0 20,0 East Asia 0 0,0 10,0 0,0 North East Asia South South East East Asia North East Central Asia- Eurasia 0 0,0 Asia Asia Asia Asia Asia Pacific Central Asia 6 6,0
Asia-Pacific 4 4,0
Eurasia 0 0,0 Total number of news 100 100,0 items 8. Actor representation – Political vs Economic frame
Political Absolute Economic Absolute Percentages Percentages frame numbers frame numbers ASEAN 4 4,5 ASEAN 0 0,0 ASEM 41 46,1 APEC 4 4,5 ASEM 1 1,0 Asian APEC 0 0,0 Developm 1 1,1 Asian Development ent Bank 0 0,0 Bank Total number Total number of of news 89 56,2 98 1,0 items news items
Political frame actor representation in percentages
50,0 40,0 30,0 20,0 10,0 0,0 ASEAN ASEM APEC Asian Development Bank 9. Metaphores – Political vs Economic frame
1. Relations. For example: “les liens entre l' Europe et l'Asie” Political frame 2. Growth. For example: l' ASEM n’a cessé de grandir
1. Growth. For example: “La croissance asiatique” 2. Size. For example: “Le géant Economic frame Asiatique” 3. Competition. For example: “talonné par la concurrence asiatique. Asia as an economic, consuming power
Forever 21 opens new store in Illustrating China’s rising Asia economic power
La Libre Belgique (O3/09/2010), ZSHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AP La Libre Belgique (25/09/2010), WU HONG/EPA Asia as an economic, consuming power Cartoon implying that Asia is Chinese entrepreneur Li Shufu is standing on equal footing with the interested in taking over Belgian West in the field of economy car factories
La Libre Belgique (01/10/2010) [email protected] Le Soir (07/10/2010), ERIC DEMURIE/BELGA Asia as a rising political power
Birman minister of Foreign affairs European and Asian statesmen posing between European statesmen posing at ASEM in Brussels
La Libre Belgique (O7/10/2010), Belga Le Soir (05/10/2010), AFP Asia as a rising political power
Prime ministers of Belgium and South Korea
Le Soir (05/10/2010), GOBLET/AFP Asia as a third world continent Tibetan refugee in Belgium Victims of the floods in Pakistan
La Libre Belgique, 02/09/2010, ALEXIS HAULOT Ruins left behind by the Tsunami (2005) in South Asia
La Libre Belgique (07/09/2010), KEVIN FRAYER/AP Le Soir (25/10/2010), Doctors without borders Thank you for your attention!