The Dynamic Media Landscape in Malaysia’s 15th General Election
Abstract
Media outlets play a vital role before, during, and after general elections by disseminating political information to the general population. Framing contributes significantly to how the media promotes certain issues, solutions, or interpretations. The 15th General Election marked a significant moment in Malaysia’s political landscape which characterised a dynamic interplay between mainstream and alternative media. The Malaysian mainstream media with its established credibility and extensive reach provided comprehensive coverage of the general election. However, its affiliation with political parties and perceived bias often led to questions about impartiality. In contrast, alternative media leveraging social media and digital platforms emerged as an important source of alternative viewpoints. The alternative media offered diverse perspectives and highlighted issues underrepresented in mainstream media, especially during the general elections. This study explores media challenges such as media law and government censorship, as well as differences in reporting the general election between the two media types. The discussion reveals that mainstream media has a significant influence due to its resources and infrastructure. The alternative media on the other hand plays a crucial role in democratising information and fostering more inclusive reporting. Additionally, this study explains the significant correlation between media and political parties, which influences media bias in news coverage. The contrasting role of mainstream and alternative media during the 15thGeneral Election discussed in this study demonstrated their distinct framing impacts in the Malaysian political landscape. The discussion also highlights the necessity for balanced media coverage that supports pluralism and a democratic context in the Malaysian political landscape.
Keywords: Mainstream media, alternative media, 15th General Election, media framing, media ownerships.
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