Rumormonger? Whistleblower? Martyr?: How the U.S. and Chinese Media Framed the Narrative of COVID-19 Doctor Li Wenliang

Abstract

This study explores news stories regarding Dr. Li Wenliang, one of the first people who tried to raise the alarm about the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, and eventually died from the disease. The way Dr. Li Wenliang was depicted in the media changed over time. Understanding how that depiction changed is important because it helps demonstrate how narratives function to frame crises. The current study uses framing and narrative theories to support thematic analysis. Observing how a narrative changes allows for a more nuanced perspective of how crises are communicated and understood by the community. Three major themes emerged from the media narratives of Dr. Li Wenliang both in China and the United States: rumormonger, whistleblower and politicized icon, and martyr. The findings identify internal and external sources of pressure that can cause the media to change their storytelling. This analysis suggests that, in the future, people like Dr. Li Wenliang, when framed as martyrs or heroes, can help the public deal with the confusion and uncertainty that surrounds a crisis.

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Iowa Journal of Communication

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Recommended Citation

Zhang, Zhenzhu and Venette, Steven J. (2021) "Rumormonger? Whistleblower? Martyr?: How the U.S. and Chinese Media Framed the Narrative of COVID-19 Doctor Li Wenliang," Iowa Journal of Communication: Vol. 53: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijc/vol53/iss2/5

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