Philippine E-Journals

Print Media Coverage on ASEAN Integration 2015: A Retrospection and Evaluation

Fe Monique Musni-tagaytay | Camille E Arro | Shiela Michelle L Napal

 

Abstract:

This study explored the print media coverage on ASEAN Integration 2015 in Davao City, Philippines in an attempt to investigate possible contributory factors to reported low levels of ASEAN Integration 2015 awareness which has been reported in member countries. The researchers conducted a content analysis of over 400 articles from three pre- selected newspapers spanning three years starting from January 2011-July 2014. Retrospection and validation of the coverage focused on their framing, focused stakeholders as well as the information given to the public. The analysis revealed that there were information vacuum on ASEAN Integration as there were no articles written during certain quarters of 2011-2014, overtaken by other news. Framing of the information of the coverage was confined only to basic knowledge about ASEAN Integration with no apparent in-depth coverage on what challenges and changes would be brought on by the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Focus of the coverage was mainly limited to stakeholder in the Business and Labor Sector while there was little coverage on the educational sector. Findings would imply that the public would have had to depend on other media sources to get information on ASEAN Integration 2015. The lack of coverage could possibly be a factor in low awareness resulting to an ill- primed public consciousness on ASEAN Integration and consequently a lack of cooperation among stakeholders.