To determine the extent to which Chinese mass media reflected official policy concerning U.S.-Sino relations during the six year period after the 1979 normalization of relations, a study examined Chinese newspapers and evaluated their treatment of U.S. actions. News stories, editorials, columns, and features in the Foreign Broadcasting Information Service Daily Report (China) were analyzed according to six content categories: (1) Political, (2) Economy, (3) Education, (4) Industry and Business, (5) Science and Technology, and (6) Socio-cultural. The information was also divided into five time periods. The results suggested that media content was linked with the general philosophies and ruling ideologies, as the United States was often portrayed as a friendly nation ready to help with China's modernization projects, particularly during periods I and II. Media treatment of the United States deteriorated during period III, 1981-83, when the legality of selling arms to Taiwan was questioned, and when Chinese tennis star Hu Na was granted asylum in the United States. Renewed relations during period V were also reflected. The general attitudes toward the United States were either positive or neutral 80% of the time, reflecting China's pragmatic attitude toward contact with the United States in modernizing their nation. (JC)