从CNN对美军驱逐舰穿越台湾海峡的报道谈西方主流媒体的倾向性写作技巧

7月7日,美军两艘驱逐舰穿越台湾海峡,CNN对此进行了貌似理性中立客观的报道,但从字里行间可以看出西方主流媒体在新闻撰写上高超的技巧,不动声色地表达出政治倾向性。

文中对台湾的描述是:Taiwan, a self-governed, democratic island, which it views as a breakaway province. 台湾是一个自治的、民主的岛屿,一下子就把台湾归类到西方国家阵营,政治理念相同,具有共同的价值观;且是自治的,不受中国大陆控制的岛屿,隐晦表达出台湾与中国大陆是分离的意思。

文中对中国大陆的描述是:The communist government in Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.  如果经常看CNN 、BBC等西方主流媒体的报道,就会知道“communist”在西方国家语境中是一个贬义词,与democratic island相对应,暗示读者中国大陆与台湾的本质性差异;by force if necessary,又想刻画出中国大陆对台湾的武力威胁。

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of the Chinese Civil War nearly 70 years ago. 中国大陆和台湾自内战结束后近70年一直处于分治状态,想告诉读者这是一个既成事实,有点一中一台的味道。

The US Navy has not sailed an aircraft carrier in that area since 2007. China has boosted its own military presence in the region, sailing its own aircraft carrier through the strait in January. The Chinese military also recently conducted large-scale military exercises 。美国海军自2007年后没再派航空母舰经过台湾海峡,而中国大力增强军事力量,还派航空母舰经过台湾海峡,举行大规模军事演习。这一中美两军的对比,又想给读者以中国穷兵黩武的形象,为中国威胁论增添新的证据。

Although both Beijing and Taipei view the island as part of "China" -- a term open to each side's interpretation -- neither government recognizes the legitimacy of the opposing side. 这段话提到了“一个中国”原则,但又说双方都不承认对方的合法性,暗示读者“一个中国”原则是没有意义的。

短短300多字的新闻,就把西方主流媒体的政治倾向性表达得淋漓尽致,CNN记者的政治觉悟、写作技巧已达到炉火纯青的地步,我就一个字,服。

 

附录:CNN新闻原文

US destroyers sailed through Taiwan Strait

CNN) — In a move that could heighten tensions between Washington and Beijing, two US Navy destroyers have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, a US Navy official has confirmed to CNN.

The warships, the USS Mustin and USS Benfold, headed north, the official said, and are the first American warships to pass through the strait since July 2017, when the USS John S. McCain made the transit. The move, which several news outlets have reported, comes amid increasing strain between the Trump administration and China over trade, North Korea and the South China Sea.

Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Charlie Brown called the passage of the ships "a routine transit."

"US Navy ships transit between the South China Sea and East China Sea via the Taiwan Strait, and have done so for many years," Brown said.

Beijing is perceived as sensitive to US military vessels traveling through the strait and continues to lay claim to Taiwan, a self-governed, democratic island, which it views as a breakaway province. The US Navy has not sailed an aircraft carrier in that area since 2007.

China has boosted its own military presence in the region, sailing its own aircraft carrier through the strait in January. The Chinese military also recently conducted large-scale military exercises that analysts saw as a warning over growing ties between the United States and Taiwan.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of the Chinese Civil War nearly 70 years ago.

Although both Beijing and Taipei view the island as part of "China" -- a term open to each side's interpretation -- neither government recognizes the legitimacy of the opposing side.

The communist government in Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, Taiwan remains an important American ally in the region, and the Trump administration has sought closer ties between Washington and Taipei.

President Donald Trump made headlines when he became the first American president-elect to accept a congratulatory phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The US also continues to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan to aid in its defense as part of the requirements under the Taiwan Relations Act, actions that are met with condemnation from Beijing.

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