Analysis of News Reporting on Violence Against Women and Children in Malaysian and Indonesian Newspapers (2022-2023)
Abstract
News representation of violence against women and children shapes public understanding, societal attitudes, and policy responses, making it an important area of media research. Such news is widespread in the digital age, especially with the spread of social media. In this paper, the similarities and differences in the representation of violence against women and children in digital news stories published in Malaysian and Indonesian newspapers during 2022–2023 are compared, since this area remains limited. To determine the frequencies and frames of pertinent news articles, a mixed-method content analysis combining quantitative and qualitative analysis was employed. The findings indicate that newspaper media in the two countries (Malaysia and Indonesia) have significant differences in terms of frequency, dominant news frames, and reporting styles. In Indonesia, the rate of coverage of this issue is in great contrast to that of Malaysia. The findings also highlight the importance of ethical journalism practices in representing violence against women and children and shaping public discourse on gender-based violence. Some of the recommendations include accountability and sensitivity required in media coverage to establish awareness and participation in policies. This kind of engagement is critical to informed public discourse and to holding the media accountable as an agent of change. By preemptively addressing ethical issues, journalists will be able to foster a more nuanced interpretation of the issues and eventually produce more desirable outcomes in society.
Keywords: News representation, gender-based violence, violence against women and children, media portrayals.
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