A Content Analysis of the Reportage of the Laiban Dam Project in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star, and the Manila Bulletin

Abstract The Philippines has a long history of press manipulation as the print media has become a business enterprise. External powers like businesses have put extra-legal limitations on the media. This thesis examines the potential role of the private sector in influencing the agenda-setting function of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star and the Manila Bulletin in their reportage of the Laiban Dam project. This study attempted to check the performance of the three leading national broadsheets in reporting the Laiban Dam issue in adherence to its Agenda-setting and Framing functions, to gauge the private sector’s influence on the press in relation to the Critical Media theories and to identify lapses and, consequently, improvements in the practice of journalism. The researcher analyzed a total of 126 articles published in the aforementioned broadsheets from February 10, 2009 to September 10, 2010 and interviewed a media expert for the validation of the initial findings. The treatment of the issue by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star and the Manila Bulletin as a business agenda confirmed the possible precedence of external powers over the power of the media.

Keywords: Content Analysis Laiban Dam Project Philippine Daily Inquirer Philippine Star Manila Bulletin

Sun, C.E. (2011). A Content Analysis of the Laiban Dam Project in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star, and the Manila Bulletin, Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication

View Thesis: A Content Analysis of the Laiban Dam Project in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star, and the Manila BulletinDepartment of Journalism Thesis