Can Autocratic Power Influence Media in Democracies? Evidence from China’s Expulsion of American Journalists

Abstract

Autocrats not only exert control over their domestic news outlets, but also strive to influence media abroad with the aim of shaping foreign public opinion and enhancing their global image. This study examines whether and to what extent autocratic governments can sway media in democracies through political pressure. Exploiting China's sudden expulsion of American journalists in March 2020, I find that U.S. news outlets impacted by the expulsion adopted a positive tone towards China in their subsequent coverage, compared to outlets that weren't affected. Further analyses confirm that the observed pattern is not driven by un-expelled outlets presenting a more negative coverage of China, and the expulsion has similar chilling effects on media that could have been affected. These findings underscore the overt threats autocracies pose to media freedom, a fundamental pillar of democratic societies.

Keywords: media bias, media capture, international news, foreign coverage

JEL Classification: D725, L82