A Comparative Analysis Of Online News Articles Media Essay

A Comparative synopsis Of On decline News Articles Media Es recordIn European Union citizens be evaluate to take obligation and behaveions to lay out the threat of mode wobble as well as semi policy-making science or corporations. However, musical composition notwithstanding 36 pct of citizens in Lithuanian take mortalised action, 75 percentage of British do. In light of skeleton as media do scheme media reportage net be considered as an explanation for divergent levels of personal contribution. Based on the last mentioned assertion the online newlys content in Lithuania and the United dobriny was investigated in cost of ascription of indebtedness to citizens, authorities and exertion/corporations. The queueings showed that the use of the uniform configurations varies by country and political preferences of media. However, the findings were not explicit enough to prove the one directional consanguinity among media content and individual level behavior, where media is perceived as having power upon individuals. Contrary, the results showed that mixer problems guide thematic choices of editorials and therefore individuals feed impact on media. As a result, findings raised concerns that the plan of inning as an interactive bidding would much relevant than the assumption of figure as linear process. accessToday humour change is on political, media and individual agendas all across Europe. Political and legislative efforts prove that modality change moderateness is a priority for the European Union. Further more, citizens argon expected to take state and actions to limit the threat as well. Supranational survey Eurobarometer shows, 63 percent of Europeans say they have taken personal actions to combat humor change (European Commission, 2009). However, the EU as a body of 27 Member States is more diverse than one seeing sum of money level figures could think. For instance, while wholly 36 percent of citizens in Lithuania n take personal action, 75 percent of British do (European Commission, 2009).The topic of humor change not only has its thematic relevance, but as well scientific. In light of shut in theory media coerage rouse be considered as an explanation for different levels of personal contribution to humor change easing among Lithuanians and British. To assess the twist of media portrayals of climate change on individuals, two enquiry questions are essentialRQ1. To what extent do media tack together climate change in price of ascription of debt instrument to industry and corporations, internationalist and national authorities, and citizens themselves?RQ2. Does the ascription of responsibility to finicky actor vary by country the United Kingdom and Lithuania?To be more specific, I expect to find that Lithuanian media charge responsibility to citizens more seldom compare to British media. Moreover, in media coverage in Lithuania ascription of responsibility to citizens should be le ss visible than ascription of responsibility to authorities or industry. Contrary, in British media attribution of responsibility to citizens should more or equally visible compare to authorities and industry.The bordering chapter go out provide theoretical trammelwork on which the paper rests. It will be followed by the sections of method, results and discussion.Literature re medical prognosisWithin the realm of companionable sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science and political conversation, studies of framing are common. In a way it explains why framing as a concept is sooner scattered, as Entman once referred to it (Entman, 1993, p. 51). However, scientists of different disciplines share the acquaintance that the function of a frame is to help passel organise the complexity of the world into meaningful categories (Nickels, 2005, p. 21). border as theory can be conceptualized in harm of media do (e.g. Scheufele, 1999 Scheufele, 2000). Generally, med ia effects are classified into cognitive, emotional and behavioural. cognitive effects refer to the assumption that how watchword is cedeed has bend on what people know or think somewhat issues, people, and event (Glynn Jeong, 2003, p. 634). affective effects refer to emotional reactions to media coverage. behavioral effects can be unders withald as observable actions that are linked to media exposure (Perse, 2001, p. 3). What concerns the latter, a widely cited arena of Kahneman and Tversky (1984) showed that how a particular issue is framed determines perceptions of problems and incidental actions upon them (Vliegenthart et al., 2008, p. 419). In view of these considerations, the prominence of framing theory and framing effects studies in the field of communication flows cancelly.In the field of political communication framing effects studies often focus on investigating the kin between news content and individual perceptions (e.g. de Vreese, 2002). Nickels (2005) argue s that partially this is determined by the assumption that the news is the principal means by which they i.e., people experience and canvass (p. 22) about certain issues. A frame in media is an emphasis in salience of certain aspects of a topic (De Vreese, 2002, p. 27). The frame works by omitting some aspects and attaching more salience and meaning to others (Entman, 1993, p. 53). The reasoning of selecting of these aspects can be determined by political, media and social context (De Vreese Semetko, 2004, p. 93). Therefore, media frames can be delimitate as social and cultural indicators of the particular succession (Nickels, 2005, p. 26).Frames in media can be investigated by the presence or absence of certain key-words, source phrases, stereotyped images, sources of information, and sentences that provide thematically reinforcing clusters of facts or judgements (Entman, 1993, p. 52). In general, two main ways to analyze frames can be identified issue-specific and generic w ine. The former is considered to be a better approach to detect newly emerging frames while the latter is found on the investigating of predefined frames in the text (Matthes Kohring, 2008). volume of the studies of generic frames focus on the prevalence of one or some(prenominal) frames in media. Attribution of responsibility (e.g. Iyengar, 1987 Iyengar, 1991 Semetko Valkenburg, 2000 Valkenburg et al., 1999) fall within most normally investigated generic frames. Valkenburg et al. (1999) defines the attribution of responsibility frame as representing an issue or problem in such a way as to property responsibility for causing or solving a problem to the presidential term or to an individual or to a group (p. 552). The biggest advantage of generic approach enables to detect differences or similarities between certain media (or within it), cross-nationally and over time (Nickels, 2005, p.24). However, generic frames are not suitable to explore the new issues as they are derived from theory.Iyengar (1991) measured how individuals attribute responsibility for social problems later on exposure to different content. The research proved that, when television news present issues in term of individual, people tend to attribute responsibility to individuals rather than government. Semetko and Valkenburg (2000) investigated the presence of 5 news frames theoretically derived from prior framing studies attribution of responsibility, conflict, human interest, economic consequences, and morality. Media content was analyzed in the consequence environ the Amsterdam meetings of European heads of state in 1997 (p. 93). The say unveiled that the attribution of responsibility frame was used the most in news. Moreover it showed that attribution of responsibility was more used in serious media both beseech and television.Bennet and Iyengar (2008) argues that today with growing opportunities to personalize media content the way people learn about and experience the soci al world has changed. Therefore, media effects theories have to be reconsidered to go in line with changing social environment. Opponents ingest (e.g. Holbert, Garrett Gleason, 2010), to announce a new era of minimal media effects is too early. Another criticism addressed to framing-effect studies is the commonly used experimental shape, which neglects natural environment people live in and questions generalizability of the findings (Chong Druckman, 2007, p. 102). Those trying to overcome methodological drawback by comparing media content with survey results agree that it is difficult to straighten out out the effects of the media from other environmental or social influences (Glynn Jeong, 2003, p. 633). On the other hand, if effects are proved to be present on individual level under experimental conditions, it is logical to expect them to be present in society at large. To put it in Vliegenthart et al. (2008) words, this does not imply that all citizens are exposed to () news , but that on the aggregate level news coverage has the potential to drive the attitudes of a meaty share of the population (p. 418). To sum up, despite changing media environment and individual habits towards media use, media still often is a primary framer and therefore has the power to determine the tone and scope of the discussion about particular issue.In view of the considerations discussed in this chapter, the present empirical research was based on the assumption that frames in media influence how people think about certain problems and act upon them. To be more specific, that how media frames climate change issue in price of frame of attribution of responsibility affects individual behavior. As in this study aggregate level public opinion surveys results will be compared with media content, I am aware that social or other influences will not be get worded.MethodThe main interest of the current study is to find out if media content are capable of explaining, why people i n some countries are more likely to take personal actions to drive climate change than others. Therefore, two cases representing significant contrasts in citizens behavior were unavoidable The United Kingdom and Lithuania appeared to comply with the condition (Eurobarometer, 2009). Consequently, the comparative design was chosen as it served the aim of the study best. As Hantrais (1996) defined, the aim of comparative cross-national research is to seek explanations for similarities and differences or to gain a greater awareness and a deeper understanding of social reality in different national contexts (Bryman, 2004, p.53). The design was realized in the form of quantitative content analysis of news websites articles in two countries.The content of news was analyzed in terms of the presence of attribution of responsibility frame. The operationalization of this generic frame was mainly based on measures developed by Semetko and Valkenburg (2000). However, as I was interested, t o what extent responsibility is attributed to a particular actor, the frame was divided into three new frames. These are Attribution of responsibility to international and national authorities, attribution of responsibility to industry and corporations, and attribution of responsibility to citizens themselves. Clusters of four yes-no framing questions were used to identify if generic frames are present in analyzed news articles (see Appendix 1).For framing analysis four news websites were chosen Guardian.co.uk and Thetimes.co.uk in the United Kingdom, and Lrytas.lt and Respublika.lt in Lithuania. All of them are websites of popular national papers The Guardian and The Times, and Lietuvos rytas and Respublika, respectively. As the online and tralatitious versions of newspapers share the content, it can be estimated that information reaches young and older, online and traditional newspaper readers at national level in both countries. Furthermore, it was estimated that political co ntroversy of newspapers can influence the findings. According to traditional division of newspapers by political affiliation, Guardian.co.uk. and Respublika.lt was chosen as contestation to go away, and Thetimes.co.uk and Lrytas.lt as leaning to right. The gunpoint of investigation is from 2009 July 1 till 2009 August 1. The choice of the period was determined by the fact that the survey on Europeans attitudes towards climate change (Eurobarometer, 2009) was conducted in 2009 August-September. Therefore, the period had to be prior to survey fieldwork. Only articles with the main topic of climate change/climate change mitigation were selected for framing analysis. In amount of money media sample consisted of 135 articles. However, media coverage varied by country meaningfully N=26 in Lithuania and N=109 in the United Kingdom.Although chosen research design is consistent with the aim of the study, it also has several drawbacks that moldiness be considered. Firstly, small media sa mple may lead to biased results as media coverage was restricted to two news websites in each country. Secondly, the study period of month does not allow measuring the presence of frames in changing political and social environment throughout longer period of time. To put it in other words, the findings show one-time situation. As a result, I am aware that generalization of research outcomes is limited.ResultsThe results of content analysis showed that the frame of attribution of responsibility to citizens in Lithuanian media is more present than in British media (see Table 1), contrary to initial expectations. The most present frame in both countries appeared to be attribution of responsibility to international or national authorities. The Lithuanian media was more likely to use this frame and merely attributed responsibility to international authorities. The British media paid more attention to attribution of responsibility to industry and corporations than Lithuanian.Table 1. Th e presence of attribution of responsibility frame by countryThe findings confirmed that political affiliation plays an important business office in presenting climate change issue. Left leaning websites (Respublika.lt and Guardian.co.uk) appeared to be more likely to attribute responsibility to citizens than left leaning (Lrytas.lt and Thetimes.co.uk). In Respublika.lt 63 percent and in Guardian.co.uk 28 percent of articles contained the latter frame, while only 17 percent in Thetimes.co.uk and none in Lrytas.lt did. Right leaning news sites considerably more discussed climate change issue in terms of attribution of responsibility to international and national authorities than left leaning.Table 2. The presence of attribution of responsibility frame by military issueTo sum up, the media coverage does not seem to be directly tie in to behaviour In Lithuania, where citizens are less likely to combat climate change personally, the frame of attribution of responsibility was more pres ent than in British media. In this case, the personal behaviour in relation to climate change mitigation seems to be a reason for a large or smaller media attention rather than a cause of citizens behaviour. passwordAs is evident from the last chapter, the use of frames of attribution of responsibility in news sites varied by country. However, the variation was not consistent with initial expectations. In terms of presence of attribution of responsibility frame results were diametric than expected In Lithuania the media attributed responsibility to citizens more than media in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the media cannot be considered as a main factor determining low citizens involution in climate change mitigation in Lithuania and high closeness of people in the United Kingdom. In this case the direction of influence is likely to be from individuals to media. Low awareness of climate change mitigation at individual level in Lithuania encourages media editorials to address the problem. As the latter problem is not present in the United Kingdom, the frame of attribution of responsibility to individuals is less present in media. Furthermore, the results go in line with criticism of framing as a one way-communication model. As Nickels (2005) noted, the framing process () is more likely to be an interactive process of dialogue where political, media and public actors have different measures of framing power(p. 32). From this point of view, a relationship between media and individuals should be investigated as an interactive process of negotiation about climate change. In light of such an approach the power of framing of different actors could be assessed more accurately.Both Lithuanian and British media mainly discussed how climate change is tackled at political level while the component part of citizens and industry and corporations received considerably less attention. The prominence of attribution of responsibility to authorities frame should not be sur prising considering policy priorities of the EU. Firstly, the European Union is said to play an important situation as the international agenda setter in relationship to climate change mitigation (Schreurs Tiberghien, 2007, p. 19). Secondly, during the last twenty years the EU managed to turn the encouragement to brace greenhouse gas emissions into legislation. Furthermore, the comparison by political preferences of news websites shows that political affiliation strongly influences the content. Climate change mitigation in terms of citizens behavior in left leaning websites was presented more often than in right leaning. The latter news sites concentrated more on attribution of responsibility to authorities. In total, right leaning news are more balanced according to the frequency of the whole three frames use. Therefore, findings prove a tight relationship between politics and media.The main limits of the study appeared to be related to methodological concerns. A short period of investigation at one particular time does not let to assess if findings can be generalized or they represent only a particular case. Another drawback is that aggregate level data on citizens behavior in relation to climate change mitigation was compared to media content of small sample. Therefore, it would be beneficial for the aim of the study to increase media sample and investigate how changes in media correspond with changes in public opinion/behavior over time. This could be considered as a future research direction in terms of methodological improvements.Besides the information related to the aim of the study, the investigation showed that Lithuanian media uses the frame of attribution of responsibility in context of international personal matters The role of national or local authorities was not mentioned in media once. Contrary, British media paid more attention to national governments policies related to climate change. As the EU is instrumental in climate change mitigati on, it would be intriguing to explore how successful is the EU in setting climate change issue on political agendas of new Member States, i.e. what role governments play in climate change mitigation. Furthermore, media sample of climate change related articles in the United Kingdom appeared to be five time bigger than in Lithuania. Consequently, it would be interesting to investigate to what extent the climate change issue is present compare to the total content media in different countries.In light of media frames the study to show that the use of the same frames varies by country and political preferences of media. However, in light of framing effects the empirically collected data was not explicit enough to shake off light on connection of citizens attitudes and subsequent actions and media content. 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