China's International Communication strategy in Latin America (CICLA)

CICLA is a three-year multi-disciplinary project that examines China’s International Communication strategy in Latin America, particularly in relation to the implications for journalism and the public sphere in the region. At the intersection between media and communications and international relations, it is led by Dr Pablo Morales, with guidance from Professor Bingchun Meng.

China’s international communication strategy worldwide has been shifting from being a mere external actor to become an increasingly close partner. In the case of Latin America, China’s international media have long been present in the region by broadcasting and publishing their own content. However, over the last decade a series of China-Latin American media summits have enabled the signing of cooperation agreements between Chinese and Latin American media organisations. Additionally, journalists from more than a dozen Latin American countries have been invited to participate in training courses in China. Finally, Chinese sources are increasingly being used by some of the most prominent newspapers and broadcasters across Latin America. 

Project aims

The overall aim of CICLA is to evaluate the extent and impact of China's communication strategy in Latin America. It does so in three ways:

1) It examines the extent of Chinese media engagement in Latin America by mapping out the collaboration between media organisations from both sides.

2) It studies how Latin American journalists report on China, particularly those who participated in training courses in China or work for media organisations that signed cooperation agreements with Chinese partners.

3) It explores how the public in Latin America engages with narratives constructed following China’s “constructive journalism” approach. 

Empirically this study aims to contribute to the understanding of China’s international communication engagement and its impact both on the public sphere as well on China’s image in the continent. Conceptually, it will challenge our knowledge of public diplomacy and international media flows, and the effects on journalism in national and regional media systems.

Project team

Dr Pablo Morales
Principal Investigator (PI)

Dr Morales is UKRI Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE. Dr Morales’ research interests lie in the impact of globalisation on international media flows and journalistic cultures in the global South. Particularly interested in how collaborations by media organisations from the global South seek to challenge the hegemonic narratives spread by mainstream media. He holds a PhD in Media Studies from the Communication and Media Research Institute, University of Westminster, where he conducted research on the reception of international news channels in Hispanic Latin America in relation to the soft power endeavours of China, Russia and Iran.

Professor Bingchun Meng 
Project Adviser

Bingchun Meng is a Professor in the Department for Media and Communications at LSE, where she also co-directs the LSE-Fudan Global Public Policy Research Centre. Prof Meng is currently the Director of the LSE PhD Academy and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).

 

Project funding

This project passed the European Research Executive Agency's (REA) assessment process successfully (proposal 101063592 submitted under the Horizon 2020’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions call HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 in October 2021).

Funding is provided by UK Research and Innovation (£251,200, Grant Reference: EP/X021467/1).