The implications of MPB structural transformation on TV programming

This paper focuses on the transformation of media organisations in Malaysia and the implications on media content through the debate of the political economy of media and globalisation of media content. The objectives of this study are to look at the aftermath of Media Prima Berhad’s structural changes since the 1998 economic crisis and the transformations that occurred in the local broadcasting and content industries. Additionally, the identification of the implications of MPB transformation on its content, particularly the television programming of its four television stations will be discussed. Semi-structured interview and content analysis of TV programming approach were used to gather data. Two main findings were identified. MPB’s corporate expansion had concentrated the local television market. The adoption of a cost-saving strategy and sharing of resources have been the keys to success. MPB is an integrated media organisation that has performed horizontal and vertical integration to strengthen its performance within the local broadcasting industry. Repositioning of 8TV and TV9 has transformed the stations’ programming since conglomeration, whilst Chinese and religious programming emerged from the corporate expansion strategy

Can twitter be an effective platform for political discourse in Malaysia? A Study of #PRU13

Studies show that social media play an important role in shaping political discourse. Applications of Web 2.0, particularly Twitter, are currently influencing the nature of online participation in which the audience is not merely passively reading web content, but is actually contributing to and creating the content.This study examines communication on Twitter during the 13th Malaysian General Election based on Twitter messages collected under the #PRU13 hashtag.The analyzed dataset is collected from Twitter's public timeline from May 1 to May 6, 2013.This study found lack of diversity in the discussion on Twitter sphere in which tweets that are pro-Barisan National coalition dominates the #pru13. Based on the communication patterns, however, #PRU13 constitute a multifaceted group of commenters who seek to persuade, educate, provoke and so on

CONCEPTUALISING COMMUNICATION MEDIA AND FARMER’S REACTION IN PROBLEM SOLVING

Purpose: Agricultural Extension Services (AES) under structural governance reform that aimed to curb AES situational problem like insufficient of information delivery, suggested communication media principally radio as a tool for farmers to keep up with newest idea and information about agriculture technology and practices. It shows that, radio role is still pertinent on delivery of information for production output. Beyond that, this study is to examine radio as new concept that allow feedback and influence farmer’s information behavior in dealing with AES problem. Methodology: This study propose the reaction of Malaysian paddy farmers could be shape to view insufficient of information delivery within AES as being intervention in increasing farmers’ utilization of communication media such radio. Drawing upon Kim and Grunig (2011) Situational Theory Problem Solving (STOPS) as the framework, aside from looking at the perception of publics towards certain problem. This study  construct a quantitative measure of radio through exploratory factor analysis using principal components with varimax rotation to assess the performance of each item in measuring their respective variables and to be examined within STOPS. An extensive reviews of literature then produced preliminary factor and items that were tested through a survey distributed among 110 respondents. Findings: Exploratory factor analysis found the items fell into common factor group and finalized with seven (7) items of measurement for future study. Practical Implications: These results offer initial guidance into the relevance of radio effected farmer’s reaction in problem solving within the proposed model of the STOPS especially at local context. Social Implications: Study forwarded the idea of communication method that assisted public to be connected towards identified problem. Radio can be used to create awareness, share information and give a voice to the community Research Limitations: New research to further investigate other needs of famers through the use of combination of media not specifically on radio only. Originality Value: Study examined the role of radio in farmer’s reaction in problem solving towards insufficient information delivery to fill the gap of knowledge within the framework of the STOPS

STUDY OF SITUATIONAL THEORY OF PROBLEM SOLVING (STOPS) IN CONCEPTUALIZING FARMER’S RESPONSE TOWARDS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION DELIVERY IN MALAYSIA

Purpose: Insufficiency of information delivery within agricultural extension services (AES) is a worldwide concern and been recognized as unresolved debate. This issue triggered AES on governance structure demand upward communication to encourage more input at farm level to allow farmers to make a decision and improve their ability to problem-solving. Methodology:  This research includes review the literature on the issue, the theoretical arguments of STOPS and finally to test the items for the measurement of farmers’ response in this problem and identified items for future study. Items were tested through a survey distributed to 110 respondents. The exploratory data analysis was performed using principal components with varimax rotation to assess the performance of each items in measuring their respective variables. Study only retained items that loaded on the variables at .50 cut off criterion, and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure verified the sampling adequacy for the analysis, KMO more than .50 Findings: Result of analysis found the items fell into factor groups as suggested by theory and finalized with 58 items of measurement for future study. Practical implications: These results offer initial guidance into the relevance of STOPS on farmers response in problem-solving towards insufficient information delivery within AES and how they react to issues that affect them. Social Implications: The investigation of STOPS on the sample in the local context of the public would provide a deeper understanding of farmers in Malaysia on their dimensions of conceptual of situational perception, communicative behavior and motivation in problem-solving towards insufficient of information delivery. Research Limitation: Evaluation of Malaysian farmer’s perception and communicative action is limited to the theoretical proposition of STOPS. Originality Value: Study unleashed farmers response in problem-solving capacity towards insufficient of information delivery which have not been fully addressed through the assumption and concept of STOPS

The influence of radio in enhancing farmers’ perceptual situation in problem solving towards insufficient information delivery

In Agricultural Extension Services (AES), radio plays a role in situational problems like insufficient infor-mation delivery. Radio not only helps farmers in acquiring information, but also creates a tendency for farmers to deal with informational interaction and to stay connected with the problem. For that rea-son, under structural governance reforms such as decentralisation, radio is expected to have an influ-ence on farmers’ actual perception and opinion in minimising the problem when used in the AES infor-mational delivery process. Drawing upon the Situational Theory Problem Solving (STOPS), this study seeks to determine the role of radio in problem solving (RIPS) on the perceptual situation variables which include problem recognition, constraint recognition, involvement recognition, and referent cri-terion towards solving insufficient information delivery. A total of 400 farmers within AES or the “Rice Bowl” area of Northern Malaysia participated in answering the questionnaire. Data was analysed using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that RIPS plays an important role in influ-encing farmers’ problem recognition, involvement recognition, and referent criterion apart from re-ducing their constraint. As a result, all of the four hypothesised relationships proposed in the study’s conceptual model were significant and supported. Hence, RIPS can now be considered as a joint ele-ment in public communication strategy to deal and solve insufficient information delivery for Malay-sia’s AES

Counter-ideological forces of “Mr Gate” in online journalism in Malaysia: a study of MalaysiaKini and The Malaysian Insider

The online news media are said to have changed the understanding of the gatekeeping theory. Due to the virtually unlimited news space together with the interactivity in the online presentation of news, the Internet defies the whole conception of gate keeping in journalism.This article seeks to examine the influence of gatekeeping forces in two influential Malaysian online news portals, MalaysiaKini and The Malaysian Insider (TMI), during the 2013 Malaysian general election. Based on the hierarchical model of news conception, this study assessed the influence of ideological gatekeeping forces on their news content.The reporting by both news portals was subjected to qualitative textual analysis.The results are triangualted with interviews with corresponding reporters and editors from MalaysiaKini and TMI. The findings show that although the reporting of MalaysiaKini and TMI is counter-ideological, the gatekeeping process remains intact. This is due to the speed factor and the requirement of the news portals to abide by the media-related laws in Malaysia

The political economy of conglomeration and its impact on television programming: a case study of Malaysia

This thesis investigates the implications of Media Prima Berhad’s (MPB) corporate growth. MPB is the largest media group in Malaysia and is highly influential due to its ownership status. The expansion has been influential as it has transformed the local television industry into a concentrated state with the potential to create a monopoly and limit competition in the small market. The study aims at addressing two main research questions. What are the transformations that have taken place in the local TV market and content industry since MPB consolidation? How do media practitioners employ space for freedom of expression and generate new ideas in television production? The study also intends to discover the differences of MPB TV networks programming in terms of local and imported content and informative and entertainment content since MPB conglomeration. The investigation is executed using a political economy framework that highlights the interrelationship of state governance in the development of the communication industry for national prosperity. The historical approach of the Malaysian television industry blends the key state policies and incidentals that contribute to the restructuring of the industry. Semi-­‐structured interviews were conducted to address the issue of MPB’s transformation in the post-­‐conglomeration era, whilst content analysis of MPB TV networks’ programming identifies the implications of MPB’s corporate expansion for its television programming, particularly entertainment, informative, local and foreign programmes. Two main findings were identified. MPB’s corporate expansion had concentrated the local television market. The adoption of a cost-­‐saving strategy and sharing of resources have been the keys to success. MPB is an integrated media corporation that has performed horizontal and vertical integration to strengthen its performance within the local broadcasting industry. The platform for creative expression and information remains limited. Repositioning of 8TV and TV9 has transformed the stations’ programming since conglomeration, whilst Chinese and religious programming emerged from the corporate expansion strategy

Polarized Muslim audiences in Malaysia

There have been a significant rise of local programs in TV stations in Malaysia. One form of the program that have been gaining interest is known as Islamic televangelism. Online focus groups discussion were conducted to understand audiences’ perception on Islamic televangelism programs. The interaction among these television audiences-turned-online followers revealed aspects of audience taste, audience segmentation and the use of social media. Findings illustrate that Muslim audiences in Malaysia are rather diverged due to a large amount of religious television programs. The diversity of the programs shown in television allows for audience to receive a variety of Islamic knowledge and contemporary religious issues. Muslim audiences now have access to an assortment religious programs with different hosts explaining and simplifying religious principles and practices. Caution, however, must be exercised when audiences display a rather intense preferences when acquiring religious knowledge through television. Unjustified reasons and obsessed emotions can interrupt the unity of Muslim society as whole and some form of vigilance should be observed for Islamic televangelism programs