Host country image construction and news rewriting: A case study of Spain’s image in <i>Ouhua News</i>

This study investigates how Chinese-language immigrant media construct the host country’s image through news rewriting. Focusing on Ouhua News in Spain, a prominent media outlet for the Chinese diaspora, the research employs a mixed-method comparative analysis of 243 original Spanish news articles and their Chinese translations. Drawing on Framing Theory, and Manipulation Theory, the study identifies key strategies of selection and adaptation. Findings reveal Ouhua News ’s prioritization of daily life and community-relevant topics, significant content modifications (omissions, additions, rewording), and a distinct shift towards a more advisory and emotionally positive tone. These strategies collectively reconstruct Spain’s social, political, and economic image to align with the information needs and cultural expectations of its Chinese readership. This research highlights the crucial role of immigrant media as cultural mediators in shaping national images within multicultural contexts, offering insights into cross-cultural communication and the dynamics of social integration.