Majanduslanguse kajastamine ajalehtedes Eesti Päevaleht ja Postimees 2008. aastal
Kuupäev
2009
Autorid
Ajakirja pealkiri
Ajakirja ISSN
Köite pealkiri
Kirjastaja
Tartu Ülikool
Abstrakt
Kirjeldus
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.
Märksõnad
H Social Sciences (General)