新冠疫情期間的美國媒體中的台灣形象研究

Abstract

本研究透過比較美國四家重要報刊上在新冠疫情期間有關台灣的相關報導，檢視其中所呈現出的台灣國家形象。本研究挑選了《今日美國》、《紐約時報》、《華盛頓郵報》及《洛杉磯時報》，四份美國重要報刊的代表，作為研究對象，並經過樣本搜尋篩選程序之後，共得到309則新聞報導為本研究之母體。再以內容分析法與框架清單分析法，設計出有關國家形象的各個變相進行相關統計分析。\n本研究的主要研究發現有三，首先，「政治」和「公衛醫療」為美國四報最關注的兩個主題，雖然政治類主題的佔比最高，但《今日美國》和《洛杉磯時報》的呈現較少，反而四報都有相當的篇幅在公衛醫療上，其結果顯示出台灣醫療的優異表現，受到美國媒體的矚目。第二，在新冠疫情期間內，台灣形象在《今日美國》、《紐約時報》和《洛杉磯時報》呈現正面居多，《華盛頓郵報》偏向中立/混合。第三，美國四報在新冠疫情期間內報導有關台灣事務的新聞，多談論防疫策略和社會文化，給予台灣肯定，並形塑出台灣是一個民主、自由、包容的小島。\n最後，本研究認為台灣在新冠疫情期間的醫療表現成功引起美國媒體的關注，為整體國家形象帶來正面效果。

This study focuses on the news coverage during the COVID-19 outbreak from USA Today, New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times in the US. to examine Taiwan’s national image. The content analysis and the list of the frame analysis were carried out to analyze several variables forming the projected national image in the 309 news items.\nThrough the statistical analysis, this study found three main points. First, “Political topic” and “Health topic” are the two themes most focused on by the four newspapers in the US. Although the political topic has the highest percentage, proportions in USA Today and Los Angeles Times are fewer. On the other hand, the four newspapers all reported lots of news on “Health topic”. The results show the American media have attracted attention by the excellent performance of Taiwan’s medical care. Secondly, Taiwan’s national image in USA Today, New York Times and Los Angeles Times are positive attitudes, in The Washington Post are neutral. Thirdly, during the period of the COVID-19, the four US newspapers reported on Taiwan affairs mostly talked about epidemic prevention strategies and social culture and shaped Taiwan as a democratic, free, and tolerant island.\nFinally, this study found that Taiwan’s medical performance during the COVID-19 outbreak has successfully attracted the attention of the American media and brought positive effects on the overall national image.