Reframing the Game: Constructing Political Discourse within U.S. Media's Sports Coverage - A Case Study of The New York Times

Abstract

This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) integrated with Arnold Kling's political discourse framework, conducting discourse analysis on The New York Times’ coverage of the summer Olympic Games involving China since 2008. Utilizing machine learning, the study extracted core discourses, deconstructed discourse frameworks, and investigates their construction mechanisms. Findings reveal that The New York Times constructs core discourses such as the "Medal Machine," aligned with the Liberal framework, "Ultra-Nationalism," embedded in the Conservative framework, and "Human Rights," rooted in the Progressive framework. These discourses indicate that The New York Times has shifted from a traditionally left-leaning stance to a broader ideological spectrum, reflecting increasingly complex reporting strategies that amplify ideological polarization between China and the United States. This research contributes to understanding sports politicization and media's role in international political dynamics.