In the Name of the Father and of the News: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Religion Reportage of Religion-affiliated News Organizations Eagle News PH and UNTV News and Mainstream News Organizations
In the Name of the Father and of the News: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Religion Reportage of Religion-affiliated News Organizations Eagle News PH and UNTV News and Mainstream News Organizations
ABSTRACT
Colcol, E. & Flores, M. R. (2016). In the Name of the Father and of the News: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Religion Reportage of Religion-affiliated News Organizations Eagle News PH and UNTV News and Mainstream News Organizations. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.
This study analyzes the criteria and standards set by religion-affiliated news organizations Eagle News PH and UNTV News in their reportage of religion-related stories as compared to mainstream news organizations ABS-CBN News and News 5 (InterAksyon.com). It also identifies the sources used, the news values considered, the categories these stories fall under, and the presence of religious content in these articles. In order to determine these criteria, the researchers used the content analysis method on articles published through these organizations’ online platforms, as well as focus interviews with their editors and news managers.
The Agenda-Setting Theory, Selective Gatekeeping Theory and Political Economy Theory support this study’s findings that Eagle News PH and UNTV News, both run by members of their respective church affiliations, exercise religious bias in terms of selecting and framing religion-related news events. Both religion-affiliated organizations do not report on events which heavily involve other churches. The study also found that Eagle News PH works for the interest and protection of Iglesia ni Cristo, while UNTV News caters to Members Church of God International as their primary audience.
Keywords: Religion, Religion-affiliated News Organizations, ABS-CBN News Online, InterAksyon.com, Eagle News PH, UNTV News