Representation of migrant workers in Chinese newspapers: combining topic modeling and critical discourse analysis.

This article analyzes the portrayal of Chinese migrant workers in 186,180 news reports from 906 Chinese newspapers between 2001 and 2021, using a combination of topic modeling (TM) and critical discourse analysis (CDA). It identifies five main topic categories—“work and labor,” “support and care,” “rights and interests,” “homecoming,” and “social emergencies”—encompassing seventeen specific topics that reflect the evolving media focus on migrant workers’ lives and challenges. The study finds three predominant media representations of migrant workers: as a disadvantaged group reliant on external assistance, as outsiders with limited urban integration, and as a vulnerable population exposed to social and economic risks. These portrayals are linked to factors including government policies, national ideology, media perspectives, and broader social realities such as urban–rural disparities and inadequate social security. The research highlights the complexity of media discourse surrounding migrant workers and suggests policy and social interventions to improve their status and integration.