Power and Game: A critical discourse analysis of international reverse news events illustrated by Essex Lorry Deaths

Abstract: 

International reverse news events happened as the evidence of sharp decline of the quality of international information flows as a result of widespread misinformation facilitated by the social media and the unbalances of the highest political powers are dividing the different societies in the world. Essex Lorry Deaths, which is a representative case of international reverse news, occurred at 1:40 a.m. on October 23, 2019 in the UK. Essex police found 39 dead bodies in a truck container in an industrial park. However, some western media used the case information provided by the police at will. When excavating the victim's identity, background and reasons of going to the UK, they connected them with China without verification, and made comments in vain, which led to misleading communication and negative effects.  Based on the background of reimagining the digital future and thinking about how to build inclusiveness, respect and reciprocity, this paper takes the reports of Western and non-Western countries' mainstream media such as BBC, CNN and People's Daily, as well as responses from British, American, Chinese officials and comments from these countries' public on this case as the research objects. Then this paper makes critical discourse analysis in the perspective of international communication. Combined with the text and historical context, this paper reveals the relationship among discourse, power and ideology behind this case. Specifically, this paper includes the following three research questions: How does the news coverage of Essex Lorry Deaths reverse? How do different mainstream media, official news reports and responses to the Essex Lorry Deaths construct the image of China? What kind of power and ideological relationship does the news report, response and comment on Essex Lorry Deaths respectively reflect? In conclusion, the research found that, first, the reversal of this case has gone through the process of police release, media deliberately distorting the facts, government intervention in investigation and media correction. Second, under the cover of the problem of international labor migration, the reports of Western media reflect the deliberate stigmatization of China's image, which is embodied in the comments on China's democracy, human rights and economic problems. The governments' offical response was more objective. And the public's attitude in China was radical, but more neutral in western countries. Third, this case shows that with the trend of technological development, the inequality of international discourse power distribution has been widened under the influence of stereotype, which formed because of different social systems and culture. But interpersonal communication on social media can be a way to narrow the gap. Finally, this paper has a critical thinking of the opportunities and challenges in the field of international communication in today's world, then puts forward some suggestions to promote the construction of a global village full of inclusive, respect and reciprocity in consideration of mankind should be digitally and technologically advanced but more human than ever in the near future.