Comparative analysis of Editorial treatment by Urdu Press of Pakistan regarding Elections 2008

Abstract

The research makes a comparative analysis of editorial treatment of election 2008 in Pakistan, with reference to Benazir Bhutto’ s assassination. The study presents content analysis of 2002 editorial from Daily Express ,Daily Jang and Daily Nawa-E-waqat during six month times period, from 18,Ocober,2007 to 18,April,2008.The study establish that in first two months of coverage before Benazir Bhutto‘s assassination, all the news paper had a diverse opinion about favorite political party in 2008 election campaign .In the second phase ,after Benazir Bhutto s’ assassination ,all the news paper had changed their opinion and favored Pakistan people’s party .In third phase coverage remain same as second phase. Agenda setting theory and frame model provide a theoretical framework for the study. Agenda setting theory provides a ground to compare the era wise coverage. The selected era is divided into three time periods.(1) Pre assassination(2) Post assassination(3) Post election. Result indicates that public agenda can be affected by media agenda. .The study shows that election 2008 result was very similar to news papers and party wise coverage .All those parties won more seats in parliament which were covered as a favorite party in news papers. It is quantitative as well as qualitative research, counts the variables and also measured the favorable, unfavorable or neutral point of view about those variables. Total time period is selected as sample is six month. It is further divided into three sets. Favorable, Unfavorable and Neutral.