Media Influence and Public Opinion on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Projects in Myanmar: A First-Level Agenda-Setting Analysis

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between news media and public opinion on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Myanmar since media liberalization in 2011, using first-level agenda-setting theory. A mixed-method approach was employed: a quantitative content analysis of 217 articles from ELEVEN and The Irrawaddy, identifying 1436 distinct frames on ten BRI-related issues, and a survey of 385 respondents to assess public opinion. Spearman's rank-order correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between media coverage and public opinion. A strong positive correlation (rho = 0.87, p < 0.05) was found between increased media coverage and public opinion alignment regarding BRI-related issues. The findings highlight the significant influence of the media on the public perception of BRI projects in Myanmar, and contribute to media effects and agenda-setting theory, offering insights for stakeholders investigating the interplay between the media, public opinion, and international development. Further research is needed to explore the media's agenda-setting role in BRI project policy decisions in Myanmar.

Keywords: agenda-setting theory; media influence; public opinion; BRI projects; Myanmar

媒体影响与公众舆论：缅甸“一带一路”倡议（BRI）项目的第一层次议程设置分析

摘要：本研究运用第一层次议程设置理论，探讨自2011年媒体自由化以来，新闻媒体与缅甸“一带一路”倡议（BRI）相关项目公众舆论之间的关系。研究采用混合方法，包括对《ELEVEN》和《The Irrawaddy》共217篇文章的定量内容分析，识别出1436个与“一带一路”相关的十个议题的具体框架，以及对385名受访者的调查以评估公众舆论。通过斯皮尔曼等级相关分析检验媒体报道与公众舆论之间的关系，结果发现媒体报道增加与公众对“一带一路”相关议题的舆论一致性之间存在显著正相关（ρ = 0.87，p < 0.05）。研究结果表明，媒体对缅甸“一带一路”项目公众认知具有重要影响，为媒体效应和议程设置理论提供了实证支持，同时为研究媒体、公众舆论与国际发展之间的互动关系的利益相关方提供了洞见。未来研究应进一步探索媒体在缅甸“一带一路”项目政策决策中的议程设置作用。

关键词：议程设置理论；媒体影响；公众舆论；“一带一路”项目；缅甸

作者简介：Zeyar Oo，深圳大学传播学院博士研究生戴永红，深圳大学外国语学院/深圳大学区域国别与国际传播研究院院长、特聘教授、博士生导师

文章首发于Journalism and Media 

2024年第5期

Journalism and MediaJournal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Linguistics and Language) Impact Factor 2.0 (2023); 

5-Year Impact Factor: 2.1 (2023) Indexed in ESCI ( Web of Science), and Scopus 

文章原文附链接下载阅读！