Media intrusion or development journalism? Framing the 2006 Singapore General Election.

• Main Authors: Chong, Shing Yee., Han, Teck Juan., Lim, Li Qin., Tan, Xian Lin.
• Other Authors: Cenite, Mark
• Format: Final Year Project
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Journalism::Reporting on public affairs and politics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/1164
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study examined the dominant type of frame in Singapore press coverage of the 2006 Singapore General Election by pitting two theories against each other. While media intrusion theory states that media adopt game frames as a result of following journalistic values that favor the competitive aspects of campaigns, the development journalism model predicts more issue frames since it emphasizes issues and policies. Election news articles that appeared in The Straits Times, the dominant English newspaper in Singapore, over a 16-day period were content analyzed. Game-framed coverage predominated, lending support to media intrusion theory rather than the development model. Objectivity of the press was also examined, revealing a bias toward the ruling People’s Action Party to some extent. The findings indicate that Singapore’s dominant newspaper follows international journalistic conventions in election coverage, emphasizing strategic contests between candidates and parties instead of reporting on substantive issues that are ultimately more important to voters. However, favorable coverage toward the government also points to presence of some aspects of the development model. By following the agenda of the government and casting it in a favorable light, Singapore’s dominant newspaper exhibited characteristics of development journalism.