COM3706
October November Portfolio 2024
Unique number:
Due Date: 17 October 2024
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL &
GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A FIVE-ISSUE STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 4
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT/MAIN ISSUE ........................................ 4
3. SUBPROBLEMS................................................................................................ 5
4. LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 5
4.1. The Role of Newspapers in Political Discourse ........................................... 6
4.2. Political Coverage in South African Newspapers ......................................... 6
4.3. International Perspectives on Political Coverage ......................................... 6
4.4. Themes and Narrative Styles in Political Coverage ..................................... 7
4.5. The Impact of Media Ownership on Political Coverage ............................... 7
4.6. Methodologies in Content Analysis Studies ................................................. 8
4.7. The Influence of Digital Media on Political Reporting................................... 8
4.8. Biases in Political Coverage ........................................................................ 8
4.9. Comparative Analysis of Political Coverage ................................................ 9
4.10. The Role of New Media ............................................................................. 9
4.11. Conclusion ............................................................................................... 10
5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY...................... 10
5.1. Definition of Agenda-Setting Theory .......................................................... 11
5.2. Key Theoretical Tenets of Agenda-Setting Theory .................................... 11
5.3. Arguments and Implications of Agenda-Setting Theory ............................. 11
6. RESEARCH DESIGN ...................................................................................... 12
6.1. Type of Research Design .......................................................................... 12
6.2. Population of the Study.............................................................................. 12
6.3. Sampling Type and Size ............................................................................ 13
6.4. Unit of Analysis .......................................................................................... 13
6.5. Data Collection Instruments ....................................................................... 13
6.6. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Characteristics .............................. 13
6.7. Justification for Mixed-Method Design ....................................................... 14
6.8. Data Collection Method and Process......................................................... 14
6.10. Sample Size ............................................................................................ 14
6.11. Unit of Analysis ........................................................................................... 15
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
, 6.12. Data Analysis Method .............................................................................. 15
6.13. Conclusion ............................................................................................... 15
7 PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS ............................. 15
7.1. The Leading Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian During the Week of
Analysis ............................................................................................................ 15
7.2. The Space Occupied by Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian in Relation
to Other Themes ............................................................................................... 16
7.3. The Location and Number of Political Stories within the Mail & Guardian . 17
7.4. The Angle Taken in Presenting Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian .... 17
8. DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS .................................................................. 18
11. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 19
SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION ................................................ 21
ADDENDUM ........................................................................................................ 22
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
October November Portfolio 2024
Unique number:
Due Date: 17 October 2024
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL &
GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A FIVE-ISSUE STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 4
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT/MAIN ISSUE ........................................ 4
3. SUBPROBLEMS................................................................................................ 5
4. LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 5
4.1. The Role of Newspapers in Political Discourse ........................................... 6
4.2. Political Coverage in South African Newspapers ......................................... 6
4.3. International Perspectives on Political Coverage ......................................... 6
4.4. Themes and Narrative Styles in Political Coverage ..................................... 7
4.5. The Impact of Media Ownership on Political Coverage ............................... 7
4.6. Methodologies in Content Analysis Studies ................................................. 8
4.7. The Influence of Digital Media on Political Reporting................................... 8
4.8. Biases in Political Coverage ........................................................................ 8
4.9. Comparative Analysis of Political Coverage ................................................ 9
4.10. The Role of New Media ............................................................................. 9
4.11. Conclusion ............................................................................................... 10
5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: AGENDA-SETTING THEORY...................... 10
5.1. Definition of Agenda-Setting Theory .......................................................... 11
5.2. Key Theoretical Tenets of Agenda-Setting Theory .................................... 11
5.3. Arguments and Implications of Agenda-Setting Theory ............................. 11
6. RESEARCH DESIGN ...................................................................................... 12
6.1. Type of Research Design .......................................................................... 12
6.2. Population of the Study.............................................................................. 12
6.3. Sampling Type and Size ............................................................................ 13
6.4. Unit of Analysis .......................................................................................... 13
6.5. Data Collection Instruments ....................................................................... 13
6.6. Qualitative and Quantitative Research Characteristics .............................. 13
6.7. Justification for Mixed-Method Design ....................................................... 14
6.8. Data Collection Method and Process......................................................... 14
6.10. Sample Size ............................................................................................ 14
6.11. Unit of Analysis ........................................................................................... 15
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
, 6.12. Data Analysis Method .............................................................................. 15
6.13. Conclusion ............................................................................................... 15
7 PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS ............................. 15
7.1. The Leading Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian During the Week of
Analysis ............................................................................................................ 15
7.2. The Space Occupied by Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian in Relation
to Other Themes ............................................................................................... 16
7.3. The Location and Number of Political Stories within the Mail & Guardian . 17
7.4. The Angle Taken in Presenting Political Stories in the Mail & Guardian .... 17
8. DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS .................................................................. 18
11. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 19
SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION ................................................ 21
ADDENDUM ........................................................................................................ 22
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
