PEMILIHAN DAN AUTORITI SUMBER BERITA BINGKAI PILIHANRAYA DI MALAYSIA

Abstract

In journalism, a source plays an important role in any news. Journalists depend on sources in the processing of their news to be conveyed to the audience. Authoritative sources may include government officials, media practitioners, public elites, scientists, doctors, lawyers, professionals or experts. The sources for political news are categorically those associated with individuals who are politically active, and this includes ordinary citizens. This article explores popular sources used in the framing election news in 1987, 1997 and 2014 in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian. A content analysis was carried out on 419 election news articles that were randomly selected. In-depth interviews were done on six journalists and the data is used to strengthen the source selection authority in electoral news. The study found that whilst local politicians are the main source of election news frame, however, the selection of sources remains the advantage of those with the authority to comment on specific political issue.