This is the main section of the media analysis. The aim of your analysis of data collected during your investigation is to answer your research question.  Examine your data with this in mind.  In this section you present your data and your findings (interpretation of data) which you will draw upon in writing the conclusion.
This section needs to have a clear structure that reflects the thematic sub-sections based on your research question(s) and data. In the case of a comparative media analysis, the comparison should be at the heart of the entire report. You may want to start with the overall key finding and proceed by breaking it down in key messages that should be at the start of each sub-section. Again there is not just one good structure of the text.

As we used qualitative and quantitative methods you could include in the report about your findings:

• Quotes (do not forget to reference the article!)
• Pictures (especially when you analysed the pictures, it is a good idea to include some examples, again do not forget to reference the article!).
  Every picture should also have a title: e.g “Picture 1. family members of the victim”
• Charts, graphs, tables and diagrams
  Every figure/table should also have a title: e.g “Figure 1. Pie Chart Representing …”, “Table 1. An overview of …2

 

1.Do’s and don’t’s

1. Focus in the analysis on the important variables and topics.
   If there is no story in the data, leave it out. If some data do not help you to answer these questions, you do not need to use these in your study.   The qualitative analysis can enrich, nuance or even contradict more quantitative findings and a deep exploration and the use of many examples is preferable over very general descriptions. Trying to be too comprehensive will also often interfere with a strong story line.
2. Arrange ideas in a logical order and in order of relevance or importance.
   Use headings, subheadings and sidebars to strengthen the organisation of your article.
3. Pay attention to the language. You are writing for an academic audience.
   1. Avoid vagueness ( eg. most articles, the majority of the article…, there was only a minor difference,…)
      Better is: In 30 % of all articles, in the majority of all articles (n: 24/32; ‘n’ refers to the exact number -not the percentage- of articles and this means here in 24 out of the 32 articles)
   2. Use an academic writing style
      Be inspired by Academic Phrasebanks
4. Use figures, tables, pictures (if analysed) in addition to text  to communicate the message.
5. Use headings that capture the meaning (eg. “Victim of knife violence are the main focus of reporting about London knife crime”) in preference to traditional  titles (e.g.“an overview of victim presentations”). It always help readers to understand the main message of the text.

2. References and Bibliography

Newpaper articles are data sources and whenever you quote text or use pictures, you should reference the newspaper article

• In text reference: (Journalist, year)
• Bibliography: Surname journalist, initials first name. year. ‘title article.’ Newspaper. Month, Day.

Ensure that all references are accurate, consistent and are referenced in the text.

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