Media and ethnic integration: Representations of Inner Mongolian minorities in Inner Mongolia Daily

This article examines how Inner Mongolia Daily ( IMD ), a state-run Chinese newspaper, represents ethnic minority groups in the context of the bilingual education policy implemented in September 2020 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region of China. This policy, which emphasizes the promotion of Mandarin Chinese, reflects broader national efforts to strengthen a unified pan-Chinese identity. Anchored in media representation theory and a thematic analysis of 156 news articles, the study identifies three key themes: (1) promoting Mandarin for the ‘modernization’ of Inner Mongolians, (2) fostering ethnic integration for a unified pan-Chinese identity and (3) incorporating minority cultures into a broader Chinese narrative. The findings suggest that IMD ’s coverage generally aligns with state narratives of ethnic integration, presenting ethnic minorities as integral members of the national community and avoiding their exoticization or marginalization. At the same time, it reveals subtle biases, including under-representation, stereotypes and the dominance of the majority group’s perspective. These findings contribute to understanding how state media construct ethnic identities and mediate cultural integration in multi-ethnic societies.