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Editors’ choice versus readers’ choice: press role in creating public awareness and understanding of the Government Transformation Programmes (GTP)
Azahar Kasim1, Awan Ismail2, Mohd Sobhi Ishak3, Norsiah Abdul Hamid4.
The research makes a contribution to understanding the different ways of how
media is conceptualised through an investigation of how and why GTP is practised
in Malaysia. Therefore, the main aims of this article are to analyse the role of Berita
Harian (BH) newspaper in reporting on the Malaysian Government Transformation
Plan (GTP), and to examine how editors understand and talk about GTP strengths
and limitations to the society. The study was conducted in two phases; first, by
exploring the frequencies of news articles from May 2010 and June 2013 and second,
by examining the contributing factors influencing reporting of the GTP, based on
the understanding of readers. In this regard, this research offers a comprehensive
analysis of GTP strengths and limitations as reported in BH. The case study focuses
on BH news article. An analysis of 18 BH news articles between 2010 to 2013 is
included, to investigate how BH frames GTP. Agenda setting by the government
and the gatekeeper role by the editorials are also analyzed since it has an impact on reportage, specifically on GTP issues. In addition, a survey among BH readers
involving 50 respondents was conducted to understand their awareness of the
GTP based on their reading of the editorial’s section of the BH. The findings also
demonstrate evidence of the importance to understand the editors’ and readers’
expectations. The editors as gatekeepers of the media organisation should ensure
that the readers are aware of the information they wrote about the government’s
policy. However, the analysis of the survey responses clearly indicates that that the
readers, or in the context of the gatekeeping theory, are known as ‘the gated’, were
not really aware and have not really understood the message that the editorials re
trying to put across.
Affiliation:
- Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
- Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
- Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
- Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
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MyJurnal (2021) |
H-Index
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Immediacy Index
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