Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwean election; how influential are newspapers' endorsements in today's digital age
02 Oct 2017 at 06:46hrs | Views
Another Zimbabwean General Election is upon us, and while it will come quicker than expected, a lot has changed in years both politically and digitally.
Since 2013's election, Zimbabwe has seen a factious revolution party and another take their place, political parties thrown into turmoil, and tensions rise between the former comrades and those who either came late or who deserted. The party has been shaken heavily to the root.
While this election initially expected to see ZANU PF win outright, latest opinions indicate this majority is becoming less predictable, therefore last-minute events could have some influence in swaying undecided voters. in anticipation of the ;last push, the newspapers have decided to take a role.
it should be noted that one sector that has a degree of influence in politics is that of the media. In previous elections, it's not uncommon for some national newspapers to endorse a party or to hold a particular view. However, in the age of social media and "on the move" mobile news - newspapers electronically or paper have thrown in some hints when it comes to political party endorsements?
"Circulation of print papers has declined in most of industrialized countries, but this does not infer from that as a decline in influence one, not all sectors of the news industry have been equally impacted by the drop in print ad revenues, and second, that newspapers' influence is a result of their "structural coupling to the public opinion, a process that surely benefits from broad circulation but that's not restricted to it."
Digital, meanwhile, has greatly advanced and it has shown to be lethal if not controlled. the WhatsApp and social media outlets have played a great role in influencing the voters choice now or tomorrow. Meanwhile, newspapers had 24 percent influence in informing readers about the election and helping them form opinions on parties, However, the agenda setting impact of the news media is significant; they may not directly influence your vote, but they certainly set the agenda about what's being talked about. in Zimbabwe it is now common that the press bother private and public have taken great interest in the shenanigans of ZANU PF. the infights in the party have become news and feeding highly on the opposition.
How society consumes political news may be showing a greater shift towards digital, yet newspaper political endorsements have still been closely. The press has influenced and fuelled the factional wars in ZANU PF in order to decamping it. With this trick the opposition has abdicated its duty and vested all its powers in the press. By the time Tsvangirai opens his mouth the issue would have been dealt with in the press.
The secrecy of the party are now dealt with in public or in the press. This unguided transparency destroys the party and no one is listening.
Yet does this mean media firms should shift their political endorsements more towards online?
"There is no question that digital and social media is an important part of editorial strategies for media organizations, but political endorsements are to a certain extent uncharted territory for news organizations online, they could backfire with negative sentiment on social media, the Tajamukas and Pastor Mawarire used the WhatsApp to spread their messages. at the same time we are still struggling with people who believe that all that is written is correct, how wrong? It should be noted that while the demographics of print readership may vary to that of online, firms who hold a certain editorial stance on politics are likely to be expected to push this subject matter out on a number of its distribution platforms.
With elections highlighting the melting pot of political views found within a country, a role that news groups can take on - when engaging the public - is to inform citizens of each party's proposals, and analyse what the benefits, disadvantages and facts are of each party's manifesto, to generate debate and discussion.
When it comes to endorsing a certain party, a newspaper is at risk of potentially alienating readers who don't stand by the views given; an unexpected political endorsement by a newspaper would be seen as a way of standing out to the public. Whether a news organization chooses to remain impartial or be vocal on who it supports, in either case, both types of groups are "simply trying to strike a balance between their core values and the expectations of their readerships.
It's fair to say that newspapers have lost some influence as more new platforms emerge, if even a small group of citizens can be swayed, print endorsements still have an impact.
"The reality is that elections are often won by just a handful of votes in each ballot box. If even only a tiny percentage of people are swayed, then newspaper endorsements still have influence
"In terms of social media, I think there is a much greater chance that the public are influenced by social media, but they don't see it as media, they see it as a place where they are entertained, and they are influenced by what they friends like and share.
It has become apparent that in Zimbabwe the private press is having a serious effort to soil and castigate Munangagwa. The bias on all the online Newspapers and the other privately owned papers shows that people are being swayed against some officials.
One wonders how editors go to sleep after being so flagrantly biased and indeed against all odds.
The saying which these papers forget is that one day is very long in politics and the more you attack one person the more that person gets sympathy. our newspapers and journalist have fuelled the divisions in ZANU PF. they have clearly shown their side in the whole drama and some have been fed to demonise others.
It is with great shame that journalists have abdicated their fairness reporting and to embrace the victimisation of one senior officer. These journalists must know better that fire fuelled by newspapers will last as long as the paper withstands the heat.
The interest exhibited by the press is totally divisive and unfair,
vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Since 2013's election, Zimbabwe has seen a factious revolution party and another take their place, political parties thrown into turmoil, and tensions rise between the former comrades and those who either came late or who deserted. The party has been shaken heavily to the root.
While this election initially expected to see ZANU PF win outright, latest opinions indicate this majority is becoming less predictable, therefore last-minute events could have some influence in swaying undecided voters. in anticipation of the ;last push, the newspapers have decided to take a role.
it should be noted that one sector that has a degree of influence in politics is that of the media. In previous elections, it's not uncommon for some national newspapers to endorse a party or to hold a particular view. However, in the age of social media and "on the move" mobile news - newspapers electronically or paper have thrown in some hints when it comes to political party endorsements?
"Circulation of print papers has declined in most of industrialized countries, but this does not infer from that as a decline in influence one, not all sectors of the news industry have been equally impacted by the drop in print ad revenues, and second, that newspapers' influence is a result of their "structural coupling to the public opinion, a process that surely benefits from broad circulation but that's not restricted to it."
Digital, meanwhile, has greatly advanced and it has shown to be lethal if not controlled. the WhatsApp and social media outlets have played a great role in influencing the voters choice now or tomorrow. Meanwhile, newspapers had 24 percent influence in informing readers about the election and helping them form opinions on parties, However, the agenda setting impact of the news media is significant; they may not directly influence your vote, but they certainly set the agenda about what's being talked about. in Zimbabwe it is now common that the press bother private and public have taken great interest in the shenanigans of ZANU PF. the infights in the party have become news and feeding highly on the opposition.
How society consumes political news may be showing a greater shift towards digital, yet newspaper political endorsements have still been closely. The press has influenced and fuelled the factional wars in ZANU PF in order to decamping it. With this trick the opposition has abdicated its duty and vested all its powers in the press. By the time Tsvangirai opens his mouth the issue would have been dealt with in the press.
The secrecy of the party are now dealt with in public or in the press. This unguided transparency destroys the party and no one is listening.
Yet does this mean media firms should shift their political endorsements more towards online?
"There is no question that digital and social media is an important part of editorial strategies for media organizations, but political endorsements are to a certain extent uncharted territory for news organizations online, they could backfire with negative sentiment on social media, the Tajamukas and Pastor Mawarire used the WhatsApp to spread their messages. at the same time we are still struggling with people who believe that all that is written is correct, how wrong? It should be noted that while the demographics of print readership may vary to that of online, firms who hold a certain editorial stance on politics are likely to be expected to push this subject matter out on a number of its distribution platforms.
With elections highlighting the melting pot of political views found within a country, a role that news groups can take on - when engaging the public - is to inform citizens of each party's proposals, and analyse what the benefits, disadvantages and facts are of each party's manifesto, to generate debate and discussion.
When it comes to endorsing a certain party, a newspaper is at risk of potentially alienating readers who don't stand by the views given; an unexpected political endorsement by a newspaper would be seen as a way of standing out to the public. Whether a news organization chooses to remain impartial or be vocal on who it supports, in either case, both types of groups are "simply trying to strike a balance between their core values and the expectations of their readerships.
"The reality is that elections are often won by just a handful of votes in each ballot box. If even only a tiny percentage of people are swayed, then newspaper endorsements still have influence
"In terms of social media, I think there is a much greater chance that the public are influenced by social media, but they don't see it as media, they see it as a place where they are entertained, and they are influenced by what they friends like and share.
It has become apparent that in Zimbabwe the private press is having a serious effort to soil and castigate Munangagwa. The bias on all the online Newspapers and the other privately owned papers shows that people are being swayed against some officials.
One wonders how editors go to sleep after being so flagrantly biased and indeed against all odds.
The saying which these papers forget is that one day is very long in politics and the more you attack one person the more that person gets sympathy. our newspapers and journalist have fuelled the divisions in ZANU PF. they have clearly shown their side in the whole drama and some have been fed to demonise others.
It is with great shame that journalists have abdicated their fairness reporting and to embrace the victimisation of one senior officer. These journalists must know better that fire fuelled by newspapers will last as long as the paper withstands the heat.
The interest exhibited by the press is totally divisive and unfair,
vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Source - Dr Masimba Mavaza
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