Manisha Nandi, a graduate of the Master’s Program Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management, has published her master’s thesis, co-authored with Xavier Matteucci, in the International Journal of Business, Events and Legacies (IJBEL). The study analyzes how local and international media covered Expo 2020 Dubai before, during, and after the event.
A research success for the Tourism and Hospitality Management study programs: Manisha Nandi’s master’s thesis, co-authored with Xavier Matteucci (her thesis supervisor), has been turned into an academic article titled “Framing Expo 2020 Dubai: Evolving Local Versus International Media Narratives”, which has now been published.
The research focuses on how local and international media reported on Expo 2020 Dubai and how this coverage changed over the course of the event. For the study, 90 English-language media articles were analyzed, covering the period from the preparatory phase through the event itself to the post-event phase of the World Expo.
Differences in Reporting
The results show that topics such as infrastructure, the economy, events, urban development, and innovation dominated the coverage. At the same time, clear differences emerged between local and international media. While local media portrayed the Expo predominantly in a positive light and emphasized its importance for innovation, the economy, and national development, international media more frequently addressed critical issues such as human rights or potential media bias.
The analysis also makes it clear that media narratives changed over time: International reports were often skeptical during the preparatory phase but increasingly took a positive turn following the Expo’s successful conclusion. The researchers see this as providing valuable insights for destination management organizations and organizers of major international events who are developing communication strategies for future mega-events.
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