International Journal of Humanities and Social Science
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science
Vol. 2 No. 17; September 2012
Agenda setting and Framing of Elections during Musharraf Period in Pakistani Print Media (1999-2008)
Naveed Iqbal Chaudhry Lecturer Institute of Communication Studies University of the Punjab Lahore-Pakistan Amna Ashraf Lecturer Media studies Dept 93-Kinnaird College Lahore-Pakistan Abstract
This paper presents a content analysis of editorials published by the elite English press of Pakistan during Pervaiz Musharraf’s regime (1999-2008). It examines the trends of editorial agenda, policies of the selected press and diversity of issues regarding dictator led elections in Pakistan. The study considers the postulates of ‘agenda setting’ and ‘framing’ to examine the editorial coverage of elections by three English dailies. The time against each election under study is divided into ‘pre-poll’, ‘polling’ and ‘post-poll’ periods. The analysis deals with six categories of the contents. It explores that what are the major issues and events regarding elections that got attention of the press. How media gives priorities to cover electoral issues. It further investigates the consistency of editorial policy and the watchdog role playing by the selected press through their editorials. It unpacks the frames being used in the editorials to picture a certain image regarding these electoral issues.
Key Words: Elections, Pakistani print media, Pervaiz Musharraf, Framing, Agenda setting. 1. Introduction
Studying elections through analyzing media coverage, regarding diverse range of electoral issues, is one of the popular and fascinating domains of research in the field of political communication. Elections are considered central to the process of democratization and involve a larger number of people in a country than any other social activity. Media ought to be responsible in connecting the election commission, contestants and electorates regarding the issues of the electoral process. The
Vol. 2 No. 17; September 2012
Agenda setting and Framing of Elections during Musharraf Period in Pakistani Print Media (1999-2008)
Naveed Iqbal Chaudhry Lecturer Institute of Communication Studies University of the Punjab Lahore-Pakistan Amna Ashraf Lecturer Media studies Dept 93-Kinnaird College Lahore-Pakistan Abstract
This paper presents a content analysis of editorials published by the elite English press of Pakistan during Pervaiz Musharraf’s regime (1999-2008). It examines the trends of editorial agenda, policies of the selected press and diversity of issues regarding dictator led elections in Pakistan. The study considers the postulates of ‘agenda setting’ and ‘framing’ to examine the editorial coverage of elections by three English dailies. The time against each election under study is divided into ‘pre-poll’, ‘polling’ and ‘post-poll’ periods. The analysis deals with six categories of the contents. It explores that what are the major issues and events regarding elections that got attention of the press. How media gives priorities to cover electoral issues. It further investigates the consistency of editorial policy and the watchdog role playing by the selected press through their editorials. It unpacks the frames being used in the editorials to picture a certain image regarding these electoral issues.
Key Words: Elections, Pakistani print media, Pervaiz Musharraf, Framing, Agenda setting. 1. Introduction
Studying elections through analyzing media coverage, regarding diverse range of electoral issues, is one of the popular and fascinating domains of research in the field of political communication. Elections are considered central to the process of democratization and involve a larger number of people in a country than any other social activity. Media ought to be responsible in connecting the election commission, contestants and electorates regarding the issues of the electoral process. The
References: Aelst, P, V., Maddens, B., Noppe, J., & Fiers, S. (2008). Politicians in the News: Media or Party Logic? : Media Attention and Electoral Success in the Belgian Election Campaign of 2003. European Journal of Communication 23(2), 193-210. DOI: 10.1177/0267323108089222. Retrieved from http://ejc.sagepub.com/content/23/2/193. Caliendo, S, M., & McIlwain, C. D. (2006). Minority Candidates, Media Framing, and Racial Cues in the 2004 Election. The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, 11(4), 45-69. DOI: 10.1177/1081180X06293551. Retrieved from http://hij.sagepub.com/content/11/4/45. Chyi, H. I., & McCombs, M. (2004). Media salience and the process of framing: Coverage of the Columbine school shootings. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 81(1), 22-35. Dominick, J. (2002). The Dynamics of Mass Communication. Boston McGraw Hill Companies. Domke, D., Fan, D, P., Fibison, M., Shah, D, V., Smith, S, S., & Watts, M. D. (1997). News Media, candidates and issues, and public opinion in the 1996 Presidential Campaign. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 74(4), 718-737. Drew, D., & Weaver, D. (1998). Voter Learning in the 2004 Presidential Election: Did the Media Matter? Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 83(1), 25-42. Drew, D., & Weaver, D. (2006). Voter Learning in the 1996 Presidential Election: Did the Media Matter? Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 75(2), 292-301. Forrest, J., & Gary, N. M. (1999). The Mass Media, Election Campaigning and Voter Response: The Australian Experience. Party Politics, 5(1), 99-114. DOI: 10.1177/1354068899005001006. Retrieved from http://ppq.sagepub.com/content/5/1/99. Goffman, E. (1974). Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience. New York, NY et al.: Harper & Row. Ishaq, N. (2002). Media and Society Relationship Theories: A critical appreciation of literature available in the Libraries of Lahore. Unpublished manuscript, Institute of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Kellner, D. (2005). The Media and Election 2004. Cultural Studies; Critical Methodologies, 5(3), 298-308. DOI: 10.1177/1532708605277005. Retrieved from http://csc.sagepub.com/content/5/3/298. Kosicki, G, M., Becker, L, B., & Fredin, E. S. (1994). Buses and Ballots: The role of media images in a local election. Journalism Quarterly, 71(1), 76-89. McCombs, M, E., & Donald, L. S. (1977). The Emergence of American Political Issues. NY: West Publishing Co. McNair, B. (2007). An Introduction to Political Communication (4th ed). London, NY: Rutledge. McQuail, D., & Windahl, S. (1993). Communication Models for the Study of Mass Communications (2nd ed). London: Longman. Negrine, R. (2008). The Transformation of political communication: Continuities and changes in media and politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Rudd, C., & Connew, S. (2007). Minor Parties and Media Coverage during the 2005 New Zealand Election. Political Science 59(2), 51-62. DOI: 10.1177/003231870705900205. Retrieved from http://pnz.sagepub.com/content/59/2/51. Saleem, N. (2010). Framing of U.S. image in The Pakistan Times & Dawn with reference to the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan (1979-88). Journal of Media Studies, 25(1), 33-49. Severin, W. J., & Jr, J. T. (1992). Communication Theories: Origins, Methods, and uses in the Mass Media (3rd ed). New York: London Group Limited. Strömbäck, J., & Aelst, P. V. (2010). Exploring Some Antecedents of the Media 's Framing of Election News: A Comparison of Swedish and Belgian Election News. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 15(1), 41-59. DOI: 10.1177/1940161209351004. Retrieved from http://hij.sagepub.com/content/15/1/41. Tworzecki, H., & Semetko, H. A. (2010). Media Uses and Effects in New Democracies: The Case of Poland 's 2005 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 15(2), 155174. DOI: 10.1177/1940161209360698. Retrieved from http://hij.sagepub.com/content/15/2/155. 282