Election coverage : An analysis of online media during the Maldives presidential election 2013

Abstract

Media can play a crucial role in shaping public opinion on politics in general, and specifically during election campaigns. This research studies media framing of Presidential candidates during the Maldives Presidential Election 2013. Objectives of the study were to identify the tone (positive or negative) of media coverage in relation to the presidential candidates (namely Gasim Ibrahim, President Mohamed Waheed, Abdulla Yameen and President Mohamed Nasheed) in four online media outlets (CNM Online, Haveeru Online, Sun Online and MV Times) and the role played by journalists in their media coverage. The methodology used was a mixed method approach including a content analysis of four local online media's news articles and editorials relating to the election for the period from 1st September 2013 to 17th November 2013, text analysis to explain how particular text gave its meaning, and interviews with local experts of the media and politics. The main findings were that the media outlets coverage has mostly negative frames associated with presidential candidates and that the media played a very minimal role as expected from a democratic state