Manipulation And Competitiveness In Newspaper Articles
Mao et al (2012) conducted the study on comparison of two Alberta newspapers (Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal) and one national newspaper (The Globe and Mail) covered homeless issues in terms of population, main themes, article type, monthly differences, and critical time periods. Through purposive sampling technique, 449 articles from 1987 to 2007 were selected for analysis, including 128 news articles from the Edmonton Journal, 152 from the Calgary Herald and 169 from The Globe and Mail. A content analysis showed that these newspapers have different agenda settings for homelessness related issues. We argue that the differences among the newspapers’ coverage on homelessness are directly related to media ownership, and the unique economic and political structure and ideology at national and provincial levels.
Fawole and Olajide (2012) analyzed the coverage of gender roles in agriculture in four Nigerian newspapers (2000-2004). Increasing roles of women in agricultural activities has made provision of gender responsive information imperative. This study investigated coverage of gender roles in agriculture in four selected Nigerian newspapers. Ninety-two articles representing the media coverage from four newspapers were coded for this study. Results indicated that the tabloids covered more non-gender stories (67. 3%) than gender stories (32. 6%), male roles enjoyed more prominence than female roles; and total amount of space allotted to females (51. 3%) was more compared to male roles (48. 7%). However, male 10 roles (33. 3%) in agricultural news coverage enjoyed more strategic placement as compared to female roles (23. 3%), though space allotted (t = -0. 16, p = 0. 872) and placement (t = 0. 94; p = 0. 94) of male and female related stories were not significantly different. Civil society groups with mandates for agriculture and gender development should mount advocacy, mobilization and sensitization for media executives on the importance of gender responsive reporting of agricultural news.
Lyytimaki (2012) conducted the study on newspaper coverage of climate change and eutrophication in Finland. The analysis adopts the perspective of contextual constructivism and the agenda-setting function of the mass media. Selected models describing the evolution of environmental coverage were applied within an interdisciplinary emphasis. The results show that the amount of newspaper content on eutrophication and climate change has generally increased, although both debates have been characterized by intense fluctuations. The volume of the coverage on climate change has been higher than that of eutrophication, especially since 2006. Eutrophication was highlighted most during the late 1990s while the peaks of climate coverage occurred between 2007 and 2009. The two most important factors contributing to the increase in coverage since 2006 include international policy negotiations and mild and snowless winters. Between 2006 and 2008, other factors included the releases of major scientific reviews, expressions of concern by key actors, and the related debate on energy policy. This thesis highlights the importance of taking media coverage into account as a key factor in the formulation and implementation of environmental policies aimed at broad based actions.
Alireza and Samuel (2012) conducted his study on headlines in newspaper editorials: A Contrastive Study. Newspaper editorials constitute a part of media discourse, which was an extremely important field of research in both intercultural rhetoric analysis and EFL/ESL studies. Specifically, certain features of editorial headlines and also their important role in monitoring and directing readers' attention have made the interface between the linguistic analysis of newspaper editorial headlines and teaching of English as a foreign language as a relevant issue in language teaching. Through conducting a contrastive textual analysis of selected headlines, culled from the editorials of the English Newspaper, The New York Times, and those of Persian newspaper, Tehran Times, the present study aimed at exploring the kind of textual and rhetorical strategies the two newspapers employed for propagating their preferred ideologies. The results of the study indicated that headlines in the two papers presented a subjective attitude of the writers (newspapers) towards the topic. However, based on the analysis of the data, it became clear that there were certain differences between the two sets of headlines in terms of Presupposition, and certain Rhetorical devices.
Song et al (2012) discussed different sampling methods and sample sizes in the selection of daily newspapers in China for content analysis of the news. Results show that the method of constructed week sampling was more efficient than simple random sampling or consecutive day sampling, and a single constructed week allows reliable estimates of news content in a population of six months of newspapers edition even for highly volatile variables. The weekday-plus-Saturday constructed week sampling, an often-used stratification approach in content analyses of Chinese daily newspapers, however, requires a larger sample size, depending on the types of variables being analyzed.
Olivia et al (2012) conducted study on content analysis of smokeless tobacco coverage in U. S. newspapers and news wires. This study aims to contribute to the literature by providing the first description of smokeless tobacco (SLT) coverage in the news, an important communication channel given its ability to educate and shape public opinion about tobacco issues. A content analysis was conducted on SLT-related news and opinion articles between 2006 and 2010 from top circulating national and state newspapers and select news wires. Articles were coded for the main SLT topic, SLT risk references, and slant of opinion articles.
Siwei et al (2013) his study involved a content analysis of 4821 articles that contained at least one full paragraph focused on tobacco issues from newspapers published in cities that participated in the Tobacco-Free City — Gates Tobacco Control Project in China between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2011.
Entman refers to media content analysis among ninety American newspapers in the 1970’s where newspaper competition did not influence the existence of seriousness, diversity, balance and responsiveness in news. Thus, Entman concludes that it is not the degree of newspaper competition that most directly shapes news quality, but the priorities of the publisher and the specific preferences among audiences and advertisers. In another American study 423 journalists were asked about their perceptions regarding how newspaper competition affects content. Once again, there were mixed emotions about competition as most journalists believed competition promoted editorial diversity and competitiveness among journalists, but at the same time, also increased sensationalism in news reporting. This study was followed up by a new study in 1997 where journalists and editors were asked about newspaper competition and its influence on City Hall reporting. The results showed that this competition could have positive and negative effects. The amount of coverage of local politics increased in competitive markets, but at the same time in-depth stories decreased, especially in smaller papers.
Produce the kind of information people need. Newspaper organizations need to sell copies to attract readers and advertisers, and they also need to be profitable in order to satisfy their owners. From a liberal media viewpoint, newspapers need to compete against each other about news, audiences, advertisers and capital. Competition is necessary to bring better products and in the ‘perfect’ market the fittest will survive: namely those newspapers in greatest demand in the market. If less successful competitors have to leave the market this is not a huge disadvantage, as the market does not demand their product. Competition is not only considered to be a guarantee of quality of products, but also the agent of innovation and pluralism in society.
