COM3706
Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due date: 12 May 2026
POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A
CONTENT ANALYSIS OF AGENDA-SETTING, PLACEMENT, TONE AND VOICES.
1. Introduction
This study examines how political stories are covered in the Mail & Guardian newspaper
through content analysis. Newspapers remain important in democratic societies because
they inform citizens about governance, political leadership, public policy and
accountability. However, newspapers do not only report events; they also influence which
issues become important in public debate through the selection, placement and repetition
of news stories (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). The Mail & Guardian was selected because
it is known for investigative journalism and political reporting in South Africa, especially on
issues such as corruption, governance and public accountability (Tyali, 2017). This study
focuses on how political stories are presented in the newspaper during the selected
period of analysis. It will examine leading political stories, the space given to politics, the
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
,POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A
CONTENT ANALYSIS OF AGENDA-SETTING, PLACEMENT, TONE AND
VOICES.
1. Introduction
This study examines how political stories are covered in the Mail & Guardian
newspaper through content analysis. Newspapers remain important in democratic
societies because they inform citizens about governance, political leadership, public
policy and accountability. However, newspapers do not only report events; they also
influence which issues become important in public debate through the selection,
placement and repetition of news stories (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). The Mail &
Guardian was selected because it is known for investigative journalism and political
reporting in South Africa, especially on issues such as corruption, governance and
public accountability (Tyali, 2017). This study focuses on how political stories are
presented in the newspaper during the selected period of analysis. It will examine
leading political stories, the space given to politics, the location of political stories,
the angle of reporting and the voices included in the coverage. This will help show
how the newspaper may shape readers’ understanding of political issues.
2. Research Problem Statement
Political reporting plays an important role in shaping how citizens understand political
issues in South Africa. Newspapers such as the Mail & Guardian influence public
awareness by selecting certain political stories and giving them prominence over
others. However, political stories are not always presented in the same way, as
differences may exist in how frequently they appear, where they are placed in the
newspaper and how they are framed. These differences may affect how readers
interpret political events and actors. This study therefore investigates how the Mail &
Guardian covers political stories during the selected period of analysis. It focuses on
identifying patterns in the frequency, placement, tone and representation of voices in
political reporting in order to understand how the newspaper contributes to shaping
public debate (McCombs and Shaw, 1972; Tyali, 2017).
, 3. Subproblems
1. To identify the leading political stories in the Mail & Guardian during the
selected period of analysis and to examine the themes and issues highlighted
in these stories.
2. To determine the space occupied by political stories in the Mail & Guardian in
relation to other themes such as business, sport and entertainment.
3. To analyse the location and number of political stories in the Mail & Guardian,
including whether they appear on the front page or in less visible sections.
4. To examine the angle taken in presenting political stories in the Mail &
Guardian
4. Literature Review
Newspapers play a central role in political communication by informing citizens about
political developments and shaping public debate. In democratic societies, the media
is expected to act as a watchdog by monitoring government activities and holding
political leaders accountable (Wasserman, 2010). However, scholars argue that the
media does not simply report events but also influences how these events are
understood through the selection and presentation of news (McQuail, 2010). This
means that political reporting can shape public perceptions of governance,
leadership and policy issues.
In the South African context, political reporting has developed significantly since the
end of apartheid, with newspapers focusing on issues such as corruption, service
delivery and political accountability (Wasserman, Chuma and Bosch, 2018).
Research shows that political news often emphasises conflict, controversy and
prominent political figures because these stories attract audience attention (Harcup
and O’Neill, 2017). While such reporting highlights important issues, it may also
create a perception that politics is mainly associated with crisis and disagreement.
Framing is another important concept in understanding political reporting. Framing
refers to the way journalists highlight certain aspects of a story while ignoring others,
thereby influencing how audiences interpret events (Entman, 1993). For example,
political events may be presented as governance failures or as necessary policy
decisions depending on the perspective adopted by the newspaper. Studies suggest
that the Mail & Guardian often frames political stories around themes of
Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due date: 12 May 2026
POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A
CONTENT ANALYSIS OF AGENDA-SETTING, PLACEMENT, TONE AND VOICES.
1. Introduction
This study examines how political stories are covered in the Mail & Guardian newspaper
through content analysis. Newspapers remain important in democratic societies because
they inform citizens about governance, political leadership, public policy and
accountability. However, newspapers do not only report events; they also influence which
issues become important in public debate through the selection, placement and repetition
of news stories (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). The Mail & Guardian was selected because
it is known for investigative journalism and political reporting in South Africa, especially on
issues such as corruption, governance and public accountability (Tyali, 2017). This study
focuses on how political stories are presented in the newspaper during the selected
period of analysis. It will examine leading political stories, the space given to politics, the
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
,POLITICAL STORY COVERAGE IN THE MAIL & GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER: A
CONTENT ANALYSIS OF AGENDA-SETTING, PLACEMENT, TONE AND
VOICES.
1. Introduction
This study examines how political stories are covered in the Mail & Guardian
newspaper through content analysis. Newspapers remain important in democratic
societies because they inform citizens about governance, political leadership, public
policy and accountability. However, newspapers do not only report events; they also
influence which issues become important in public debate through the selection,
placement and repetition of news stories (McCombs and Shaw, 1972). The Mail &
Guardian was selected because it is known for investigative journalism and political
reporting in South Africa, especially on issues such as corruption, governance and
public accountability (Tyali, 2017). This study focuses on how political stories are
presented in the newspaper during the selected period of analysis. It will examine
leading political stories, the space given to politics, the location of political stories,
the angle of reporting and the voices included in the coverage. This will help show
how the newspaper may shape readers’ understanding of political issues.
2. Research Problem Statement
Political reporting plays an important role in shaping how citizens understand political
issues in South Africa. Newspapers such as the Mail & Guardian influence public
awareness by selecting certain political stories and giving them prominence over
others. However, political stories are not always presented in the same way, as
differences may exist in how frequently they appear, where they are placed in the
newspaper and how they are framed. These differences may affect how readers
interpret political events and actors. This study therefore investigates how the Mail &
Guardian covers political stories during the selected period of analysis. It focuses on
identifying patterns in the frequency, placement, tone and representation of voices in
political reporting in order to understand how the newspaper contributes to shaping
public debate (McCombs and Shaw, 1972; Tyali, 2017).
, 3. Subproblems
1. To identify the leading political stories in the Mail & Guardian during the
selected period of analysis and to examine the themes and issues highlighted
in these stories.
2. To determine the space occupied by political stories in the Mail & Guardian in
relation to other themes such as business, sport and entertainment.
3. To analyse the location and number of political stories in the Mail & Guardian,
including whether they appear on the front page or in less visible sections.
4. To examine the angle taken in presenting political stories in the Mail &
Guardian
4. Literature Review
Newspapers play a central role in political communication by informing citizens about
political developments and shaping public debate. In democratic societies, the media
is expected to act as a watchdog by monitoring government activities and holding
political leaders accountable (Wasserman, 2010). However, scholars argue that the
media does not simply report events but also influences how these events are
understood through the selection and presentation of news (McQuail, 2010). This
means that political reporting can shape public perceptions of governance,
leadership and policy issues.
In the South African context, political reporting has developed significantly since the
end of apartheid, with newspapers focusing on issues such as corruption, service
delivery and political accountability (Wasserman, Chuma and Bosch, 2018).
Research shows that political news often emphasises conflict, controversy and
prominent political figures because these stories attract audience attention (Harcup
and O’Neill, 2017). While such reporting highlights important issues, it may also
create a perception that politics is mainly associated with crisis and disagreement.
Framing is another important concept in understanding political reporting. Framing
refers to the way journalists highlight certain aspects of a story while ignoring others,
thereby influencing how audiences interpret events (Entman, 1993). For example,
political events may be presented as governance failures or as necessary policy
decisions depending on the perspective adopted by the newspaper. Studies suggest
that the Mail & Guardian often frames political stories around themes of
