The findings show that 1) in Australia, both institutionalized and non-institutionalized forms of political participation have increased over time, and the non-institutionalized forms of political participation increased even more. 2) Young citizens use the internet for political news more often than older citizens and on the contrary, old citizens are more likely to use traditional media for political news than younger citizens. Furthermore, the results of multiple regression analyses indicate that 3) using traditional media and the internet for poetical news have positive effects on both institutionalized and non-institutionalized forms of political participation. Besides, the study finds that using traditional media for political news is a stronger predictor for institutionalized forms of political participation compared to the non-institutionalized forms of political participation. And a similar pattern is found in the effects of using the internet for political news on political participation. Moreover, the study also shows that using media for political news increases citizens’ political interest, in other words, 4) political interest mediates the relationship between different news media usage and political participation.

The purpose of this study is to describe how labor conflicts are covered in Swedish news media. Strikes are events that receive a lot of news coverage, while also being the most drastic measure available to organized labor. Due to these circumstances, the news coverage of strikes is a promising focus when trying to understand labor journalism, and what
consequences such journalism has for the labor movement. The journalistic treatment of strikes has not been studied to a great extent in the Swedish context. Therefore, this study has the ambition to fill this gap in research by exploring the journalistic treatment of strikes in Sweden.
The study is guided by a notion that the portrayal of conflicts may reflect wider power relationships in society as well as between the antagonists. Two main concepts are news frame and source access. The former being interpreted as setting the terms of public debate,the latter as possibly contributing in shaping framing of strike coverage, or contributing in assigning credibility to some sources by giving them privileged access to act as news sources.
The overall aim of investigating the portrayal of strikes in news media is specified to a number of research questions. The first two questions address what frames are used in strike coverage, and how the use of frames change with different strike contexts. Another set of questions address what sources that are used in the coverage. The last two questions thus on the one hand address if source selection changes from conflict to conflict, and on the other if certain sources are associated with certain frames.
The method used in this study is quantitative content analysis. This method is of particular
usefulness when trying to answer questions that require analysis of quite a large amount of
news content. The news coverage that was examined was limited to four newspapers, specifically Göteborgs-Posten, Dagens Nyheter, Expressen, and Aftonbladet. The strikes that were investigated were the four most recent major strikes in the country. Two of these strikes were carried out by pilots, one by dockworkers, and one was a wildcat strike by waste collectors.
Frames are in this study defined by their function, they set the terms of debate by diagnosing, evaluating, and making prescriptions when different events and issues are covered in news. As one of the questions this study sets out to answer is what frames characterize Swedish strike coverage, these frames are derived from content. This is achieved by the use of an inductive method were articles are clustered together based on how homogenous they are with regards to some characteristics that function as elements constituting frames.
Four frames were identified in the strike coverage. The most common frame was that of the aggressive union. Other frames where one were the conflict was framed as about the need for dialogue, and one where the emphasis was put on repression and transgression from employers. Lastly, in line with what could be expected from previous research on labor journalism and strikes, a framing of strikes as a threat to the economy was identified in the coverage. The most central frame varied from strike to strike, with the aggressive union dominating the intensely covered strikes, the repressive employer frame characterizing one strike where news coverage was limited, and the threatened economy dominating the fourth strike.

The CNN and Fox news articles conveyed to us multiple aspects of the situation in Syria. Through the analysis of the media published articles, the magnitude of the Syrian people suffering is evident to be substantial. The media framed many interacting local, regional and international factors that displayed to us the complexity of the conflict. Through this media content analysis, one can realize how the media reported and framed the political communications and interactions between these factors which could infer what formed the main characteristics of the early US foreign policy in the Syrian unrest. Both Fox News and CNN focused on the likelihood of early American military intervention, the American diplomatic fight against Russia in the United Nations, the Republican opposition of the Democratic government policies, and the fear of opposition and radical extremists arming by the west. CNN and Fox News had multiple similarities and differences in reflecting specific parts of the Syrian conflict. By media focusing on the aforementioned areas of the conflict, this study concludes that the two American media sources framed a horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria

Our media environment has changed rapidly since the cultivation theory was proposed by Gerbner in the late ’60s. The amount of news media content has increased to an unprecedented level and the surge of alternative media sites has given news media consumers the option to selectively expose themselves to news that conveys a version of reality which is aligned with their own perceptions. This study aims to examine whether the cultivation theory, as it is currently defined, is still relevant in today’s fragmented media landscape or if it should be redefined to better capture selective reinforcing cultivation effects. This will be done by theoretically synthesising the cultivation theory with the reinforcement spirals model. To address these questions empirically, this study relies on a combination of a quantitative media content analysis (N=904) matched with longitudinal panel survey data (N=1508). Thereby, content differences in violent crimes news reporting can be linked to public perceptions about the development of violent crimes in society. The findings from the content analysis suggest that there are significant differences between violent crimes news content in alternative media and in traditional media. The results from the cross-lagged panel analyses suggest that reinforcing cultivation effects only occur for alternative media use. The theoretical implication of this is that it is no longer reasonable to assume that significant cultivation effects will occur on the large mass. Instead, reinforcing cultivation processes occur on smaller segments of the population where media selectivity is the driving force. Cultivation theory should, thus, be redefined to include the selectivity aspect of media consumption. To synthesise cultivation theory with the reinforcement spirals model is, as shown in this study, one way of doing this but an even better way would be to develop the original theory to include the aspect of
selectivity and exclude the idea of mainstreaming.

This study aims to examine the use of content marketing from an organizational perspective. By studying the practical use and strategic thinking around the concept,this thesis aims to provide a deeper understanding of how organizations in Sweden
work with content marketing as a part of their strategic communication. Is there a difference between B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) companies? The specific research questions asked are:
1. How do companies perceive content marketing?
2. How do companies work with content marketing as part of their strategic
communication?
3. How do companies follow up their work with content marketing?
In order to answer the research questions properly, this study utilizes the theoretical framework consisting of theories from strategic communication and inbound marketing. In addition, academic research has not yet been done to the extent
necessary to understand content marketing and its definition. Instead, the field has been largely designed by practicing marketers (Du Plessis, 2015; Holliman & Rowley, 2014; Barregren & Teborg, 2013). Therefore, the combination of content marketing and strategic communication theory adds a new approach to the research field.
The method used consists of in-depth semi structured interviews with seven informants from six companies. The informants all have a leading position within
marketing and responsibility over the company’s content marketing plan. In order to assess if there is a difference between B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (businessto-consumer) companies, the interviews consists of three informants from each group.
The result of the study shows that companies perceive the concept of content marketing very differently, which is visible in their priorities, working methods and resources. Based on the informants’ responses, it is clear that there are different opinions about the concept of content marketing and its meaning. Furthermore, the study also shows that despite a common sense that a content marketing strategy is important to have, few have a clear set strategy for their work. Although all informants measure the impact of their content marketing efforts, it may be discussed whether the correct measure is used and if the work is followed up according to the theory’s guidelines. Although many different CPIs are mentioned as business metrics, there are few who specify a greater final goal for their content marketing efforts,
based on their general business goals.

The aim of this study was to examine how Swedish public service media represents Facebook; a private, transnational company but also a tool for public service media (PSM) to reach its audience. The first research objective was to find out to what extent and in what way Facebook has been present in two of the biggest news programs in PSM, Rapport and Dagens eko, over the last ten years. The second research objective was to examine how the two programs represented Facebook in relation to the Cambridge analytica case.
The theoretical starting point for this study was social constructionism. Critical discourse analysis was the main methodological approach, mainly based on van Dijk’s idea of socio-cognition. The analysis was conducted from a political economy perspective. For the first part of the study a quantitative content analysis was used to code every news story in Dagens eko and Rapport that mentioned the word Facebook, a total of 419 news stories. The content analysis focused on whether Facebook was the focus of the news, Facebook’s agency and the context it was placed in. For the second part critical discourse analysis was used on 11 news stories during the reporting on the Cambridge analytica case.
The results from the content analysis showed that Facebook has been given increasing amount of space in the news stories, but that it was often not the focus of the news stories. Up until 2018 Facebook was mostly described as passive unless it was talked about as a company. The discourse analysis showed that Facebook is described as an infrastructure, but also that the discourse surrounding Facebook have elements of discourse of fear and entertainment. Finally, the results showed that the reporting bears evidence of neoliberal ideology which is manifested through individualization, marketization and depolitization.

This thesis takes a spearheaded look at a modern, much-talked about concept of misleading information known as ”fake news”, and how traditional journalists have handled its emergence with regards to their professional boundaries. Built on the premise that who and what is to be considered
journalism is a constant battle continuously fought between professional journalists and actors trying
to lay claim to their professional territory, through the use of qualitative ethnographic content
analysis of 88 journalistic texts, the study’s aim is to take initiative in academic concept development of how to define fake news, and explore in what ways traditional journalists have defended their professional boundaries, in light of the threat provided by the increasing prevalence
of misleading content in the information ecosystem, as well as by an anti-establishment, critical-oftraditonal-media post-truth culture.
Fake news is identified and defined as a microcosm of concepts containing one type of ’pure’ fake
news content, and four other types of misleading content. The textual analysis on boundary work
reveals an offensive stance where, in line with previous research, fake news and post-truth culture is expelled from the boundaries of journalism as deviant information-actors who pose a threat to
liberal, western-style democracy. At the same time, using different rhetorical techniques, traditional
journalism and it’s practices are reaffirmed to their audience as the proper alternative of gathering and presenting information, as well as a prerequisite for a healthy democracy.
Put in a context of the future of news, the thesis argues that the results indicate a possibility that fake news and post-truth culture might act as a ”fifth estate”, keeping traditional media in check, as they feel the need to eschew sensationalism and gossip for quality journalism to keep themselves
separated from fake news and other post-truth content.

Titel: ”The medium is the message” – en studie om vilka funktioner sociala medier fyller i användares liv
Författare: Isabell Janzon
Kurs: Examensarbete i medie-­ och kommunikationsvetenskap (30p)
Institutionen för journalistik, medier och kommunikation.
Göteborgs universitet
Kurskod: MK2502
Termin: Vårterminen 2016
Handledare: Malin Sveningsson
Antal ord: 24938
Antal sidor: 89 inklusive bilaga och referenser
Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka vilken funktion som olika sociala medier* fyller i användares liv. Används olika sociala medier* till olika ändamål och i så fall; på vilket sätt och varför?
Metod: Kvalitativa intervjuer
Material: Intervjuer med 9 respondenter
Huvudresultat: Studiens resultat har visat att olika sociala medier fyller olika funktioner för användare och dessa funktioner presenteras specifikt utifrån en typologi. Resultatet visar även att
de sociala mediernas olika egenskaper får påverkan för hur de används där faktorer som sociala konventioner som utvecklats på
de olika sociala medierna samt tekniska aspekter som upplevda algoritmer och ett kronologiskt nyhetsflöde visat sig få särskild betydelse.
Keywords: Sociala medier, sociala nätverkssajter, olika sociala medier, användarkultur, algoritmer, nyhetsflöde.

Abstract
Uppsats/Examensarbete: 30 hp
Program och/eller kurs: Examensarbete i medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap
Nivå: Avancerad nivå
Termin/år: Vt 2016
Handledare: Nicklas Håkansson
Kursansvarig: Malin Svensson
Sidantal: 73
Antal ord: 27 063
Nyckelord: Medialisering, medielogik, politisk kommunikation.
Syfte: Att undersöka vilka tecken på anpassning till medielogik som förekommer i politiska debatter samt om det finns skillnader i hur olika partier förhåller sig till mediernas logik i sin kommunikation.
Teori: Medialisering, medielogik.
Metod: Kvalitativ textanalys.
Material: Politiska debatter från Agenda under våren 2016.
Resultat:
Det finns många inslag i debatterna som följer medielogiken och kan ses som en anpassning till den på medveten eller till viss del på omedveten nivå utifrån de fyra faserna av medialisering. Dessa förekommer i olika grad och uttrycks på olika vis. Det finns vissa skillnader mellan hur politiker använder sig av medielogiken som kan ses i förhållande till dynamiken mellan partierna. De uttrycks oftast utifrån vilka partier som samarbetar och om de befinner sig i maktposition eller ej. Partierna har dock mer gemensamt när det kommer till anpassning till medielogiken än vad som skiljer dem åt. Skillnaderna antas snarare bero mer på maktförhållandena mellan partierna än olika strategier, även om det finns vissa inslag som ”paketering” av kommunikationen i form av namn på förslag och begrepp som förekommer oftare inom Allianssamarbetet än inom regeringen eller övriga oppositionspartier.

Titel: Follow your instincts! – en studie där utbildning i nyhetsvärdering analyseras
utifrån normativa demokratimodeller
Författare: Amanda Waldenström
Program och/eller kurs: Examensarbete i medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap (30
hp) Institutionen för journalistik, medier och kommunikation, Göteborgs universitet
Termin/år: Vt-16
Handledare: Nicklas Håkansson
Kursansvarig: Malin Sveningsson
Antal ord/sidor: 30368/98
Syfte: Att kartlägga hur journalistutbildningarna presenterar begreppet nyhetsvärdering
samt journalistikens relation till begreppet demokrati för sina studenter. Detta för att
vidare söka svar på vilken demokratisyn som journalistutbildningarna därmed ger
uttryck för.
Metod: Tematisk innehållsanalys
Material: Kurs- och utbildningsplaner för journalistutbildningar med kandidatexamen
samt kurslitteratur och föreläsningar i urval.
Huvudsakligt resultat: Journalistutbildningarna utbildar studenterna i att
nyhetsvärdera så som journalister gör i praktiken och presenterar för studenterna att de
kan använda sin magkänsla för att göra detsamma. Journalistutbildningarnas
presentation av nyhetsvärdering indikerar en nyhetsvärdering som ger publikstyrd
information, vilket i sig är ett uttryck för demokratisynen procedurdemokrati.
Nyckelord: nyhetsvärdering, demokrati, journalistutbildning, professionalisering, tyst
kunskap, socialisering