COM3706 ASSIGNMENT 01 2024
SEMESTER 02
ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
PASS WITH 75%+ (DISTINCTION)
PLAGIARISM FREE!
, TABLE OF CONTENT
1 TOPIC.................................................................................................................. 1
2 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1
3 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT.......................................................................1
4 SUB-PROBLEMS................................................................................................... 1
5 LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................... 2
5.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Newspapers coverage of politics in South Africa.............................................2
5.2.1 Elections..................................................................................................... 2
5.2.2 Political actor................................................................................................ 3
5.2.3 Agenda setter............................................................................................... 3
5.2.4 Establishing bias........................................................................................... 4
5.2.5 Ideological framework...................................................................................4
5.3 Conclusion................................................................................................. 5
6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS..............................................................................5
7 RESEARCH DESIGN............................................................................................. 6
7.1 Characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research designs.....................6
7.2 Reasons for using qualitative and quantitative research design......................7
7.3 Data collection method....................................................................................7
7.4 Target population............................................................................................. 8
7.5 Accessible population...................................................................................... 8
7.6 Sampling category and type............................................................................ 8
7.7 Sampling Size.................................................................................................. 9
7.8 Unit of Analysis................................................................................................ 9
7.9 Data analysis method...................................................................................... 9
8 CONCLUSION................................................................................................. 9
9 REFERENCE LIST............................................................................................... 11
10 APPENDICE A: IOL NEWSPAPER COVER PAGE..................................................14
, 1 TOPIC
A content analysis study to investigate how IOL newspaper covers political stories in
South Africa.
2 INTRODUCTION
Political communication is underpinned by interdisciplinary discourses that discuss
political matters. Newspapers are one of the dominant channels that create,
distribute, and receive political communications and stories involving politicians.
They also allow engagement and paint the political climate of a country. The purpose
of the study is to investigate ways the IOL newspaper covers political stories in
South Africa. The study strives to assess IOL newspaper coverage of political stories
in the months prior to the 29 May 2024 general elections. To achieve study purpose,
a mixed-research method is applied in the study. Most importantly, quantitative
research methods strive to identify leading political stories in the month prior to May
2024 elections. Quantitative research methods seek to determine number of political
stories covered by IOL. The proposal commences with an indication of the
research's main problem, followed by articulation of sub-problems. Subsequently, a
literature review on newspapers covering political stories follows, coupled by an
exploration of the theoretical framework that shapes the study. Importantly, the
research design that frames the research follows through illustrations of the data
collection process, sampling methods, unit of analysis, and data analysis method.
3 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
The purpose of the study is to investigate ways IOL newspaper covers political
stories a month prior to 29 May 2024 general elections in South Africa using mixed-
research methods.
4 SUB-PROBLEMS
The study sub-problems include:
To explore leading political stories and themes published in IOL newspaper in the
month leading to May 2024 elections in South Africa.
To investigate number of political stories are covered by IOL newspaper in the
month leading to May 2024 elections in South Africa.
SEMESTER 02
ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
PASS WITH 75%+ (DISTINCTION)
PLAGIARISM FREE!
, TABLE OF CONTENT
1 TOPIC.................................................................................................................. 1
2 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1
3 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT.......................................................................1
4 SUB-PROBLEMS................................................................................................... 1
5 LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................... 2
5.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Newspapers coverage of politics in South Africa.............................................2
5.2.1 Elections..................................................................................................... 2
5.2.2 Political actor................................................................................................ 3
5.2.3 Agenda setter............................................................................................... 3
5.2.4 Establishing bias........................................................................................... 4
5.2.5 Ideological framework...................................................................................4
5.3 Conclusion................................................................................................. 5
6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS..............................................................................5
7 RESEARCH DESIGN............................................................................................. 6
7.1 Characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research designs.....................6
7.2 Reasons for using qualitative and quantitative research design......................7
7.3 Data collection method....................................................................................7
7.4 Target population............................................................................................. 8
7.5 Accessible population...................................................................................... 8
7.6 Sampling category and type............................................................................ 8
7.7 Sampling Size.................................................................................................. 9
7.8 Unit of Analysis................................................................................................ 9
7.9 Data analysis method...................................................................................... 9
8 CONCLUSION................................................................................................. 9
9 REFERENCE LIST............................................................................................... 11
10 APPENDICE A: IOL NEWSPAPER COVER PAGE..................................................14
, 1 TOPIC
A content analysis study to investigate how IOL newspaper covers political stories in
South Africa.
2 INTRODUCTION
Political communication is underpinned by interdisciplinary discourses that discuss
political matters. Newspapers are one of the dominant channels that create,
distribute, and receive political communications and stories involving politicians.
They also allow engagement and paint the political climate of a country. The purpose
of the study is to investigate ways the IOL newspaper covers political stories in
South Africa. The study strives to assess IOL newspaper coverage of political stories
in the months prior to the 29 May 2024 general elections. To achieve study purpose,
a mixed-research method is applied in the study. Most importantly, quantitative
research methods strive to identify leading political stories in the month prior to May
2024 elections. Quantitative research methods seek to determine number of political
stories covered by IOL. The proposal commences with an indication of the
research's main problem, followed by articulation of sub-problems. Subsequently, a
literature review on newspapers covering political stories follows, coupled by an
exploration of the theoretical framework that shapes the study. Importantly, the
research design that frames the research follows through illustrations of the data
collection process, sampling methods, unit of analysis, and data analysis method.
3 RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
The purpose of the study is to investigate ways IOL newspaper covers political
stories a month prior to 29 May 2024 general elections in South Africa using mixed-
research methods.
4 SUB-PROBLEMS
The study sub-problems include:
To explore leading political stories and themes published in IOL newspaper in the
month leading to May 2024 elections in South Africa.
To investigate number of political stories are covered by IOL newspaper in the
month leading to May 2024 elections in South Africa.
