This paper will carefully examine the different frames to the presentation of corruption in four Malaysian online newspapers, within which selection are included examples of both mainstream and alternative media. These frames determine the coverage of a specific event or topic, which means that they define the information that is selected and that which is left out when reporting on a certain issue. As different frames can lead to very different and perhaps even opposing point of views, they strongly influence and guide people's thinking process.
The first section is subdivided into three parts. As a first step, I will consider the origins of the close alliance between mainstream newspapers and the government. On the basis of articles from The Star Online and The Sun Daily, which are online examples of daily mainstream newspapers, the next two parts analyze how corruption is reported.
In the following chapter I will start by giving an overview of alternative media in the Internet. This will precede a re-examination of articles from the alternative online newspapers Malaysia Today and Free Malaysia Today, with regard to the presentation of corruption. The principal conclusions of this study will be summarized in the end.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Approaches to Corruption in Mainstream Media
2.1 Mainstream Media
2.2 Framing Corruption in “The Star Online”
2.3 Framing Corruption in “The Sun Daily”
3. Approaches to Corruption in Alternative Media
3.1 Alternative Media
3.2 Framing Corruption in “Malaysia Today”
3.3 Framing Corruption in “Free Malaysia Today”
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the issue of corruption is framed in Malaysian online media, contrasting the coverage provided by government-aligned mainstream newspapers with that of independent alternative news sources. The research aims to identify the distinct narrative structures and editorial approaches used by these outlets to shape public perception regarding government accountability and the systemic nature of corruption in Malaysia.
- Analysis of media regulation and government influence on mainstream press.
- Evaluation of "effective government" framing in mainstream outlets.
- Investigation into alternative media as a challenge to state-controlled narratives.
- Comparative analysis of journalistic framing strategies across different media types.
- Exploration of the role of the Internet in diversifying the Malaysian media landscape.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Mainstream Media
The influence of the government on mainstream media has a relatively long history in Malaysia and was crucially effected by the May 1969 riots. In 1969 the electoral campaign and the general election's outcome led to ethnic conflicts, so that a state of emergency had to be declared by the King6. In the aftermath of the riots, the government authorized itself to censor elements that might pose a threat to national security. The Minister of Home Affairs was permitted to ban or censor imported print media, freedom of speech and freedom of the press was reduced and the Official Secrets Act was introduced to prevent the people from claiming their right to information7. Hence, this event resulted in a grave intervention of the state in individual rights and the freedom of the press.
Furthermore, the New Economic Policy (NEP), a strategy to reduce poverty and to erase the link between economic success or failure and ethnicity, caused the government to invest in and eventually determine the media sector8. During the leadership of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister intended to strengthen the role of private enterprises through a cooperation with the government. However, his plans also increased the government's impact on the media9. Consequently, these events can be seen as the determining factors for today's Malaysian media landscape and especially for the relation between the government and mainstream media.
Nowadays it is claimed that “all of the twelve major national daily newspapers are owned or controlled by the ruling coalition or private individuals closely connected with the constituent political parties of the government”10. Thus, Malaysian mainstream media can be characterized by its close relation “to government through direct or indirect ownership, or control over management”11. The outcome of this is a self-censorship leading to the avoidance of topics that the government might consider a threat to the status quo12.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the prevalence of corruption in Malaysia and introduces the research focus on how different media outlets frame this issue, contrasting mainstream and alternative platforms.
2. Approaches to Corruption in Mainstream Media: This section details the historical and legal mechanisms behind the state-controlled mainstream media and analyzes how outlets like The Star Online and The Sun Daily frame the government's anti-corruption efforts.
3. Approaches to Corruption in Alternative Media: This chapter examines the emergence of online alternative media in Malaysia and analyzes how platforms such as Malaysia Today and Free Malaysia Today frame corruption in stark opposition to government narratives.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, highlighting the fundamental divide in how mainstream and alternative media portray the government and the responsibility for corruption in Malaysia.
5. Bibliography: This section lists all scholarly works, news articles, and primary sources cited throughout the paper.
Keywords
Malaysia, Corruption, Framing Theory, Mainstream Media, Alternative Media, Internet, Political Communication, Censorship, Barisan Nasional, Corruption Perception Index, Journalism, Government Accountability, Media Ownership, News Coverage, Political Dissent
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines how different Malaysian online newspapers frame the topic of corruption, analyzing how these frames shape public perception.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
Key themes include media censorship, the relationship between the state and the press, the influence of political coalitions on media ownership, and the role of alternative media in challenging dominant narratives.
What is the research goal of this work?
The goal is to determine and compare the journalistic frames utilized by mainstream and alternative news outlets when reporting on corruption in Malaysia.
Which research methodology is employed?
The research is a qualitative analysis of selected articles from four specific online newspapers, focusing on how different framing strategies are used to influence reader opinion.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part analyzes the institutional background of mainstream media, followed by a comparative frame analysis of two mainstream newspapers and two alternative online publications.
What are the characterizing keywords of the research?
The work is characterized by terms like Malaysia, corruption, framing theory, media control, and the dichotomy between mainstream and alternative press.
How does the author characterize mainstream media in Malaysia?
The author describes mainstream media as being under the strict control of the ruling coalition, leading to self-censorship and a pro-governmental portrayal of news.
How do alternative media outlets differ in their framing of corruption?
Unlike mainstream media, alternative outlets depict corruption as an endemic issue deeply rooted in culture and the government, often framing the ruling coalition as hypocritical and ineffective.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2013, Framing Corruption in Malaysian Mainstream and Alternative Media, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/319009
