A comparative study of media framing on blog coverage in Malaysia

Abstract

This study examines how selected bloggers in Malaysia use media frames in blogging during the 13th General Election (GE). A comparison of media frames used by the bloggers has been made based on two identified blogged-groups. The specified groups have been categorised as the Pro-Barisan Nasional blog and Pro-Pakatan Rakyat blog. The sample of the study consists of a total number of 836 articles collected from eight (8) blogs. The articles had been posted by the bloggers a period of two months before and a period of two months after the 13th GE. Five generic frames with 20 attributtions statements developed and used by Semetko and Valkenburg are adapted and used as a basis of comparison. Quantitative content analysis approach is used and the results show that there is a congruency in the emphasis of the following attributes: responsibility, conflict, morality and human interest through the comparative use of frames with issues and comparisons of frames with resources. However, economy attribute has a limited emphasise in the writing blog of the article during the reviewed period due to the limit expertise of the bloggers concerning econimic issues. The findings also noted that there was a significant differences in the use of conflict frame and morality frame through issues with the news sources. This clearly shows that bloggers prefer todiscuss and link the issues that arise with certain parties with the hope of attracting people on what is being debated.