New Zealand not caught up in Obamania
For immediate release
Wellington, 20 January 2009 – Media Monitors launched the preliminary findings of their analysis report on Obama’s media coverage across Asia Pacific, demonstrating that New Zealand media is less caught up in the coverage surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama than other countries in the region.
In the period since 1 January, Australian media has had easily the highest volume of coverage, largely focused on the festivities surrounding the inauguration, while the media of countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have largely focused on the issues the new President will face.
Contrary to some commentators’ assumptions, the election of Barack Obama as U.S. President has not been universally praised across the Asia-Pacific.
Media Monitors chief executive officer John Croll noted “while Indonesia (boyhood home of Obama), New Zealand and Australian media continued to take a favourable view of Obama’s transition to power in the weeks leading up to his inauguration, other countries’ media, such as China and Singapore, have taken a more neutral view of the change that Obama may bring. In Malaysia, the overall media tone is already slightly unfavourable towards the incoming President.”
Analysis of the press coverage from the seven countries showed the greatest variation:
- New Zealand had the second most favourable coverage overall, but with the lowest volume of coverage of the seven media markets analysed
- Unfavourable coverage accounted for less than 6% of the Australian press articles analysed, with more than 50% favourable.
- Indonesian media was the most favourable overall towards Obama.
- Hong Kong, China and Singapore coverage was largely balanced, with a high amount of straight news reportage.
- Singapore media was by far the most issues focused overall.
- Malaysia coverage was predominantly neutral, although with four times as many unfavourable articles as favourable.
Results also indicate that despite the huge role online and social media played in his campaign, there has been very little discussion relating to Obama’s ascension to power on blogs across the region.
Most of the favourable coverage in New Zealand as in other countries has focused on preparations for and celebrations around the inauguration and the broader vision of Obama’s presidency, rather than detailed discussion of the policy challenges Obama faces over the next four years. The long period between Obama’s election in early November and his inauguration on 20th January seems to have created a news vacuum corresponding with the summer break in New Zealand, with significantly less coverage of policy decisions by outgoing President George Bush, without a corresponding increase in discussion of Obama’s plans and policies.
While much of the region’s media have already started to ask the tough questions of incoming President Barack Obama, in New Zealand the media seems to be waiting until Obama officially takes power before starting to mark him on the massive challenges facing the richest country on earth and its new President.
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About Media Monitors – Making Sense of the Media
Media Monitors is the leading media intelligence company in Asia-Pacific, with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China. We deliver solutions to clients in media contact database and campaign release management: multilingual media monitoring across print, TV, radio, mainstream and social media online sources, and media analysis. We serve thousands of clients in financial, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, sports, FMCG and government sectors. With over 700 employees across the region, Media Monitors offers the innovative solutions and robust media intelligence needed to confidently navigate today’s sophisticated and complex media landscape.
To arrange an interview with John Croll – CEO Media Monitors and for further details on the methodology/scope of the analysis please contact:
Karina Silva
Senior Group Communications Manager
Phone: +612 9318 4767
Mobile: +61407 39 21 25
Email: karina.silva@mediamonitors.com.au
Patrick Baume
Media Advisor
Phone: +612 9318 4012
Mobile: +61409 326 011
Email: patrick.baume@mediamonitors.com.au
Regional Media Views:
Australia
His inauguration on January 20 will act as a circuit breaker, bringing to an end the waning Bush era, hopefully banishing its legacy of economic downturn, an unpopular war and seeming worldwide xenophobia towards Americans (Adelaide Advertiser, 1/1/09)
For the many of us unable to snag a front row-seat to history, there is good news: the fun is not expected to end once the inauguration winds down. The spirit of change is expected to glimmer in Washington...long after the president and the first lady sweep down Pennsylvania Avenue and officially take up residence in the White House. (Sun Herald, 11/1/09)
…the man who promised ‘change we can believe in’ has already caused deep disappointment among previously ardent supporters who are realising, with some bitterness, that perhaps there will be more plus ca than change in Barack Obama’s administration. (Sydney Morning Herald, 10/1/09)
Singapore
…when it comes to global economics, the policy issue that is central to America's relationship with China and the rest of East Asia, Mr Obama's vision is not only hazy, but it is clouded by the kind of protectionist demagoguery that seems to be part of the political staple of the Democratic Party. It remains the main threat to the liberalisation of global trade (Business Times, 5/1/09)
President-elect Barack Obama declining to take a public stand on the conflict, some diplomats and foreign-policy experts are worried about what they describe as a lack of direction from the U.S. on the issue. "In the past, there's been choreography between Washington and Jerusalem: Israel would deal with a problem and the U.S. would help the Israelis get out of it," said Steven Spiegel, director of the Center for Middle East Development at the University of California, Los Angeles. "But today, the U.S. is just standing back. And it's a very dangerous dynamic.” (Wall Street Journal Asia, 6/1/09)
Malaysia
More than 20 people gathered on the steps of a church near the Hay-Adams Hotel to protest against Israel's military incursion in Gaza. Some held candles, while others waved Palestinian flags and raised signs that read: ‘Obama call for ceasefire, please,’ and ‘Not in our name.’ ‘Where is Barack Obama's voice? Has he been muzzled already?’ asked protester Medea Benjamin (The Straits Times, 06/01/09)
6 out of 10 U.S soldiers think Obama as U.S commander-in-chief is ‘unreliable’ or feel pessimistic toward this matter. When asked who cares more about military interests, more than half of the soldiers chose Bush. (Sin Chew Jit Poh, 04/01/09).