Rahvatantsupidude trükimeedia kajastuse analüüs (2007., 2009. ja 2011. aastal)

Abstract

The goal of this bachelor thesis on the subject on analysis of the Folk Dance Celebrations coverage in print media (years 2007, 2009 and 2011) is to study media coverage of Estonian Dance Celebration and the factors affecting the media coverage taking examples from last 3 Dance Celebrations in 2007, 2009 and 2011. The methods used in this paper include quantitative content analysis and content analysis of 3 experts interviewed. The sample contained 386 articles from Estonian newspapers that had anything to do with the Dance Celebrations. Articles were coded using a coding instruction made specifically for this paper and analyzed by the quantitative indicators. Interviews were taken with 3 experts – newspaper reporters who were thoroughly involved with the media coverage of the Dance Celebrations. The analyzis discovered, that main aspect regarding the media coverage of Dance Celebrations is traditionality which can be seen both in the content and form of the coverage. Periodically, most of the coverage was accumulated to the period of the Celebrations themselves. Most important topics covered were the concerts of the Celebration, the preparating process and regional events regarding the Celebrations. Most of the coverage by genre was written as news and had either positive or neutral tonality. There were a lot of opinions and facts presented while analyzes were being avoided. Mostly covered persons were the dancers. They were covered both in pictures and texts as passive, but positive characters. Spoken characters were rather dance instructors or regional folk-culture specialists. The most important factors affecting the media coverage was the traditional form of the event of the Celebrations. There are certain topics and ways on how and what to cover. The purpose of the media coverage includes many different levels starting from social purposes to individual purposes. On the social level it is important for propagating nationality and unity of a nation, while on individual level the main goals were to educate the readers and creating a context for an upcoming concert. Regarding the long traditional history of the Celebrations, this current paper focuses on a very short period of the media coverage. It would be useful to study the prevoius coverages and from there on start looking at the wider meaning of Estonian Dance Celebrations. Since this paper focused on writers and texts, then the auditory aspect in the context of Celebrations remains yet to be studied.