COM3706 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 2 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED

COM3706 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO (DETAILED ANSWERS) Semester 2 2025 - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED - DISTINCTION GUARANTEED Answers, guidelines, workings and references ,... 7. PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS 32 [840 words] Now that you have collected data, you are expected to present and analyse/interpret the collected data. In this section, you are expected to present and analyse your qualitative data in written format. Your quantitative data should be presented in numerical form, that is, in tables and graphs. Your presentation and analysis of the data should be linked to your main research problem and subproblems. Whilst presenting your data, you will be expected to attach evidence of data collection as an addendum (See CMNALLE/301/2025 to learn how to attach an addendum). Attach some interesting evidence to demonstrate what was happening in your selected newspaper. Each of the four selected topics should consist of at least one screenshot as supporting evidence. In addition to the newspaper cover page which you attach to your assignment 01, we expect four additional addenda that correspond to the topic in this section. The following topics should be covered in your analysis. You need to select the four topics that correspond to your four subproblems. You will lose marks if your topic of analysis does not correspond to your subproblems. Go back to the feedback for the assignment to select the subproblems that match your topic of analysis. 7.1 The leading sports stories in the (name of the newspaper) during the (period of analysis) Newsrooms will often report a certain sports story over several days because of its perceived importance. Read the selected daily newspaper thoroughly in order to determine the leading sports stories during the period of analysis. By reading through the sports stories, you may also identify the common thread between related leading stories. Describe the leading sports stories and justify why such sports stories were leading (what was so important about such stories?). Do you think such sports stories deserved to be leading stories during the period of analysis? (If not, which other sports stories were more deserving?) What kind of frames were used to present such stories? 12 Please note: Attach the evidence which shows the leading sports story in your newspaper. No evidence = no marks. 7.2 The space occupied by sports stories in the (name of newspaper) in relation to other themes The space occupied by sports stories may say something about the importance of sports in that newspaper. You are required to do some counting or measurement to determine how much coverage is given to sports stories as compared to other themes. Use your own discretion to categorise stories under various themes. For instance, you may compare sports themes with other themes such as politics, economy, arts, and so on. Present your findings in a graph or a chart and do the analysis. Based on the space given to sports news, would you say that your selected newspaper is predominantly a sports newspaper? Please note: Attach evidence to demonstrate the sports stories that occupy a large space. No evidence = no marks. 7.3 The location and number of sports stories within the (name of the newspaper) The placement and number of sports stories may say a lot about the importance of sports stories in your selected newspaper. You will be required to describe the location of sports stories during the period of analysis. Some sports stories may be placed on the cover page, the middle of the newspaper, or the back page. Check the pattern within your selected newspaper to describe the location of sports stories. In addition, you need to present your findings in relation to the number of sports stories that are covered during the period of analysis. Please note: Attach evidence from your newspaper to show the location of sports stories i.e. cover page, mid pages or back page. No evidence = no marks. 7.4 The angle taken in presenting leading sports stories in the (name of the newspaper) Here, you will be required to read the leading sports stories to determine the angle of the stories. As you are aware, news stories are written by journalists and approved by editors who use certain frames to influence the public. The newspaper owners also have certain expectations regarding the direction that the newsroom should take. As you read through the leading sports stories, you may realise that some stories are positive, negative or neutral toward certain people or institutions. Based on your analysis, you could describe how such specific leading sports stories portrayed a specific person or entity in a negative, positive or neutral way. Please note: Attach evidence from the leading sports story showing the angle that your newspaper mostly adopts. No evidence = no marks. COM3706/201/2/2025 13 7.5 Gender representation in sports coverage of (name of the newspaper) Due to patriarchy, women's sports have been systematically marginalised throughout history. Since 1996, section 9 of the Constitution of South Africa guarantees the equality of genders. Therefore, it is a constitutional right for women's sports to be given considerable or fair coverage by the media. Analyse the sports stories in the selected daily newspaper in order to answer whether the selected newspaper is representing the genders equally. Do some comparison to reveal how many sports stories involve women vs men. How are women's sports framed in the selected newspaper? Are you satisfied with the representation of women's sports in your selected daily newspaper? If not, what can be done by the selected newspaper to improve the coverage of women's sports? Please note: Attach the evidence of the sports story which involves women from your selected newspaper. No evidence = no mark. 7.6 The most featured voices within the (name of the newspaper) sports stories The newsroom carefully selects the sources/voices that they deem to be relevant during the construction of a news story. In most instances, they repeatedly select certain sources/voices as part of the framing process. You will need to read the leading sports stories in your selected daily newspaper to determine the dominant voices during the period of analysis. You will have to check the sources that are mostly quoted/mentioned within the sports stories and establish the patterns. Indicate whether such voices are those of professional players or coaches, sports teams, government, ordinary citizens or grassroots sports. Based on your analysis, does the newspaper represent the voices of the grassroots sports sufficiently? If not, what can be done to improve the representation of grassroots or developing sports? Please note: Attach evidence from your newspaper showing some of the most featured voices. No evidence = no mark. 7.7 The use of images within the (name of the newspaper) to convey the message The newsroom carefully selects the images that are used to portray a specific frame to the public. The photojournalist captures many images during the sports event, but only one or two are selected to convey a specific message. During a graduation day, for instance, the student often captures a lot of photos of their graduation, but only a few photos that best represent them are selected for their , Instagram, Facebook or TikTok stories. News reporters use the same principle when framing the story for the readers. This tells us that the images chosen have an important role to play in conveying the message. Select specific interesting images in your newspaper and conduct a visual analysis to describe how the newspaper uses images to convey the message. Please note: Attach evidence which shows some images that have specific frames or meaning. No evidence = no marks. 14 8. DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS 4 [120 words] You need to indicate if the findings agree/disagree with the literature review and the theoretical assumptions of framing and point out that there is an agreement/disagreement between the research findings and the theoretical assumptions. Also, indicate if the research has resolved the research problem. 9. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 3 [90 words] Were there any limitations to the study and, if so what were they? What would you like to recommend for future studies (recommendations)? 10. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 8 [210 words] As a researcher, you need to demonstrate that you understand the UNISA Policy on research ethics and academic integrity. We have attached the new UNISA Policy on Research Ethics, the Ethics Class Approval and the UNISA policy on academic integrity for more information about the University's stance on ethical research (see Additional Resources). The prescribed book and study guide also have a relevant section on research ethics. Do the following: • Explain your understanding of research ethics and also indicate the steps taken to comply with the UNISA Policy on Research Ethics and the Ethics Class Approval for COM3706 (2). • Read Section A1 of the UNISA Policy on Academic Integrity in order to understand the academic integrity transgressions. Select the two most relevant academic integrity transgressions and indicate how your research has not contravened the academic integrity (4). • Attach the ethics class approval as an addendum to show that the research has received the ethics class approval. The ethics class approval will be emailed to those who completed the researcher’s declaration before submitting their assignment 01. Go to your email to download the copy (2). 11. Conclusion 5 [150 words] Conclude your research project with a brief paragraph. In other words, briefly remind your readers of what has been discussed in the previous sections of the portfolio and your research findings. Check the feedback on Assignment 01 to learn how to write a conclusion.