COM3706
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: March 2026
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT / MAIN ISSUE ................................................... 3
3. SUBPROBLEMS ............................................................................................................ 4
3.1. Subproblem 1............................................................................................................ 4
3.2. Subproblem 2 ............................................................................................................ 4
4. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 4
4.1 The Role of Newspapers in Political Communication ................................................. 4
4.2 Political Reporting in South African Newspapers ....................................................... 5
4.3 Framing of Political News ........................................................................................... 6
4.4 News Values and Selection of Political Stories .......................................................... 6
4.5 Placement and Visibility of Political Stories ................................................................ 7
4.6 Content Analysis in Media Research ......................................................................... 8
5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY.................................... 9
6. RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................................... 10
6.1. Research approach (qualitative and quantitative) ................................................... 10
6.2. Data collection method............................................................................................ 11
6.3. Population ............................................................................................................... 12
6.4. Sample size ............................................................................................................ 12
6.5. Unit of analysis ........................................................................................................ 13
6.6. Data analysis method.............................................................................................. 13
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 15
Varsity Cube 2026 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: March 2026
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT / MAIN ISSUE ................................................... 3
3. SUBPROBLEMS ............................................................................................................ 4
3.1. Subproblem 1............................................................................................................ 4
3.2. Subproblem 2 ............................................................................................................ 4
4. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 4
4.1 The Role of Newspapers in Political Communication ................................................. 4
4.2 Political Reporting in South African Newspapers ....................................................... 5
4.3 Framing of Political News ........................................................................................... 6
4.4 News Values and Selection of Political Stories .......................................................... 6
4.5 Placement and Visibility of Political Stories ................................................................ 7
4.6 Content Analysis in Media Research ......................................................................... 8
5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY.................................... 9
6. RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................................... 10
6.1. Research approach (qualitative and quantitative) ................................................... 10
6.2. Data collection method............................................................................................ 11
6.3. Population ............................................................................................................... 12
6.4. Sample size ............................................................................................................ 12
6.5. Unit of analysis ........................................................................................................ 13
6.6. Data analysis method.............................................................................................. 13
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 15
Varsity Cube 2026 +27 81 278 3372
