Majanduslanguse kajastamine ajalehtedes Eesti Päevaleht ja Postimees 2008. aastal

Date

2009

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Tartu Ülikool

Abstract

Description

The aim of this Bachelor´s Thesis „Recession Agenda in Estonian Daily Newspapers in 2008“ was to examine the coverage of recession agenda in the print media. To do this, I conducted an empirical study with the aim to find out how the issue is constructed in the media and how is it defined. The theoretical basis of my thesis consisted agenda-setting theory and media roles from normative theory. In order to find the answers I reviewed the media coverage in the daily newspapers Eesti Päevaleht and Postimees of 2008 when the dramatic recession in economy and the assumed rise of the topic in the media took place. Altogether 160 articles were analysed and on the basis of those I carried out the content-anaysis and the qualitative analysis of the essence. In the content analysis I observed the topic of recession in the context, the essence of the media coverage and the changes in the coverages. In the qualitative analysis of the essence it was observed how the economic recession was defined in the articles reflecting the opinion of different politicians and which solutions were offered in the course of those discussions in order to normalise the economic situation. As it resulted from the content analysis, during the period of observation, the topic of the economic recession claimed a significant position among the journalists and the opinion leaders. In comparison with the beginning of the year the topic had become more significant by the end of the year. The analysis also showed the media not being consistent and persistent in keeping the public discussion of the recession. The issue was sensational when initial facts of the drop in economy appeared, however, the same kind of attention was not achieved in the further course of events. Different representatives of various status groups were given the possibility to express themselves, which activity is considered a presumption for a public debate. The most of space in the given newspapers was given to experts and therefore we can assume that in the given period constructive criticism was offered by the media. Apparently, the most passive group to give their opinion were the politicians. Concerning the reasons for the economic recession, the most frequent reasons which were drawn and pointed out were the shortsightedness and the inability of the government to handle and manage with these problems. The qualitative analysis of the content revealed that the dominant characteristics of the interpretations of the recession by politicians and the offered solutions by them would be characterized with the acts of populistic contrasting and opportunism. While the coalition interpreted the negative situation and recess in economy as a natural phase in the market economy and a good opportunity to change political directions, among the members of the opposition parties the recession was mainly treated as the crisis and the result of the operation and activities of the government. The analysis made clear that there was practically no unison in the further economic-political problems and issues. The review also brought out the principal difference between the solutions offered by the opposition and the coalition parties, whereas the members of the opposition found that the economical situation demanded the state interference, the coalition excluded the state interference on the principles of free market economy. In addition the opposition found that the initiative step to make, in order to improve the economic situation, is to change the government.

Keywords

H Social Sciences (General)

Citation