Examining Print Media Coverage Leading Into New Zealand And
Examining Print Media Coverage Leading into New Zealand and British Columbia’s Respective November 6, 1993 and May 12, 2009 Electoral Reform Referendums by Abdullah Sinan Alzubaidi A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Political Science University of Alberta © Abdullah Sinan Alzubaidi, 2018 ii Abstract This thesis examined whether the print media of New Zealand and British Columbia, in the immediate month campaign period leading into their respective November 6, 1993 and May 12, 2009 electoral reform referendums, provided a deliberative environment for citizens to make informed ballot choices. This is vital on such a vote. Grounded in theories of deliberative democracy, I evaluate the print media of NZ and B.C., specifically the New Zealand Herald, the Evening Post, the Vancouver Sun, and the Victoria Times Colonist broadsheets, against three indicators: quantity of coverage, balance of coverage, and presence and type of reasoning to support taken positions. Based on the gathered results, I conclude that both NZ and B.C.’s print media attempted to provide a deliberative environment so that citizens could make informed ballot decisions on competing electoral system options. However, New Zealand’s was stronger based on displaying a high quantity of coverage on their country’s referendum between FPTP and MMP, while British Columbia’s coverage was moderate on their province’s FPTP vs. STV vote. iii Preface This thesis is an original work by Abdullah Sinan Alzubaidi. No part of this thesis has been previously published. iv Acknowledgements There are many people who have helped me along the way as I have put this thesis together, taking it from just an idea and curiosity, to a completed piece of work.
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