Abstract

The conference is a high-level form of official activities. G20 Summit, one of international conferences, plays an important role in the global economy. This study probed into the comparison study of conference news between Chinese and American mainstream media, in case of G20 Summit in Toronto. After comparing 20 pieces of conference news reported by Chinese and American mainstream media, the thesis attempts to explore the cultural roots which have caused their differences. The thesis applies the theory of Dimensions of Culture by Geert Hosfstede. It uses Power Distance Index and Individualism to analyze the cultural roots in details. With a more general knowledge about Chinese and American mainstream media, Chinese English learners could be able to understand two countries’ news reports more thoroughly and objectively.

KEYWORDS:conference news; cultural roots; Power Distance Index; Individualism

摘　要

会议是官方活动的一种高级形式。国际会议中的G20峰会，对全球经济发挥着重要作用。本研究以G20多伦多峰会为例，探讨中美主流媒体会议新闻报道的对比研究。在比较中美主流媒体关于会议报道的20则新闻后，论文试图探讨造成其差异的文化根源。论文运用了霍夫斯泰德的文化维度理论，以权力距离指数和个人主义对文化根源进行具体分析。对中美主流媒体有了进一步的了解之后，中国的英语学习者就能更全面、更客观地理解中美的新闻报道。

关键词:会议新闻；文化根源；权力距离；个人主义

1    Introduction
1.1     Rationale for the research
In our daily life, we obtain news from various kinds of media. News is a window on the world. Through its frame, Americans learn of themselves and others, of their own institutions, leaders, and life styles, and those of other nations and their peoples. Under the background of complex international relationships, events and issues have their chain effects when being reported by the mass media, such as newspapers. Newspapers were at the center of our nation’s drive for independence and have a long history as the people’s medium.The information of international conferences is particularly worth paying attention to. Comparing the conference news between Chinese and American mainstream media is full of significance.