View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OTHES DISSERTATION Titel der Dissertation “Adolescents‘ Engagement with the Media: A Process of Negotiating Meanings and Constructing Cultural Identities” Verfasserin Sabariah Mohamed Salleh angestrebter akademischer Grad Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Wien, 2012 Studienkennzahl lt. A 784 301 Studienblatt: Dissertationsgebiet lt. Publizistik und Kommunikationwissenschaft Studienblatt: Betreuerin / Betreuer: Prof. Thomas A. Bauer Eapecially dedicated to My Sunshine, Amir Fariz Zakaria & My rainbow, Dani, Andi and Aaron Acknowledgement Syukur Alhamdullilah. Thank you Allah for giving me the will and strength to finish this research. I cannot believe that this chapter of my life is about to end and that I am about to embark on a new journey. I can still remember the first time I came to Vienna, five months pregnant and terrified of the new culture and language, which were all quite alien to me. But, I believed in fate and that God has decided what is best for me and that helped me to be confident with myself and stay strong, despite being alone in a foreign land, caring for a baby. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the support of my Husband, Amir Fariz Zakaria who made a big sacrifice, the moment I told him that I was going to Vienna to pursue my PhD studies. He selflessly became a single dad, and took care of our two boys. For that, I am forever indebted. Thank you for always talking about me to Dani and Andi, taking your time to Skype with me despite the seven hours time difference, visiting me when I got sick, encouraging me when I am about to break down and instilling confidence in me when I feel my world was about to shatter into pieces. You. Amir Fariz, are truly my one and only Sunshine, making me happy when my days are grey. Thinking about him and my boys, Dani, Andi and Aaron certainly motivated me to work hard and finish this, once and for all. To my parents, Salleh Pateh Akhir and Ramlah Abu Bakar, thank you. Thank you so much for always believing in me and making me believe that I was the smartest girl on earth. My decision to pursue this PhD was partly due to the fact that my Daddy has always wanted one of his children to have the letters D and R in front of their name. InshaAllah, I will fulfil your wish, Daddy. To my Along, Sara; Abang, Shahar and Akak, Safura, thank you for treating my children like they were yours. I am sure it was quite hard on them, not having me, their Mama, around while growing up. I wasn’t there to see them fall, scrape their knees and celebrate their birthdays but I know that I can always count on you three to be there for them. Thank you for the sleepless nights taking care of them when they were sick, buying them their birthday cakes and planning their birthday parties, taking them out for Roti Canai and to the playground and many more which if I listed all, would take many pages. To my parents in law, Zakaria and Siti Zawiyah, and brothers and sisters in law, thank you for being the best support system to my husband and for the words of encouragement. I am also forever grateful to my Supervisor, Prof Thomas Bauer for giving me the freedom to pursue my interest but at the same time, always keeping me in check. Thank you for your kind understanding and pointing out to new things which I would have never thought of. I am certainly very lucky to have you as my supervisor and hope that we will be able to do some collaborative research one day. To my mentor, Associate Professor Dr Latiffah Pawanteh. Thank you. Thank you for believing that I can do this and keeping me inspired. I faced a lot of problems during this PhD journey, but you were always there to pull me up. I don’t think I would have been here, if it wasn’t for you. A special thanks to Dr Emma Mohamad, for taking the time to read through some parts of my thesis and giving valuable comments. More than that, you have been a great friend. I lost count of the number of times I cried on your shoulder and tell you my worries but you always knew the right things to say to make me feel better. I am so glad we did our internship in New Straits Times together, because that was when we got to know each other better. I will also not forget my Gang Projek, Lah, Tank, Anne, Nana and Eus. Thank you very much for always being there throughout the good and bad times. Lastly to my sons, Dani and Andi. You may not be able to read this now, but I would like to ask you for your forgiveness. Leaving you behind was the hardest thing for me to do. I am sorry that I was not there to see you achieve your milestones. But, please know that I love you so much and I promise that this will be the last time that our family will be apart. As for my baby, Aaron. I must tell you that it is not easy to look after a baby while writing up my thesis. I am sorry for the times you have to play by yourself while I typed away on my laptop and keeping you away from your Papa and Brothers. Having said that, I would also like to thank everyone else who has contributed to the thesis and my PhD journey, in one way or another. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. Terima kasih. RESUME Name: Sabariah Mohamed Salleh Email: [email protected] EDUCATION University of Vienna, Austria, 2008 - current PhD Candidate Thesis title: Adolescents’ Engagement with the Media: A Process of Negotiating Meanings and Constructing Cultural Identity Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002 – 2005 Masters in Publishing Studies (Coursework and Thesis Component) Thesis title: Front Page Pictures on a Newspaper: A Study on New Straits Times and The Star CGPA: 3.85 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, 1999 – 2002 Bachelor (Honors) in Communications (Major: Journalism, Minor: English Language) CGPA: 3.37 GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Research Grant, RM3,000 (approximately €750), 2008 Research: Youth and TV: A Study on Adolescents in Felda. Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry Grant, RM1.2 million (approximately €375,000), 2007 – 2008 Co-researcher Research: Youth Mapping: A Study on Perspective, Impact and Development of Youth in Malaysia Research University Grant, RM500,000 (approximately €100,000), 2008 Co-researcher Research: Role of media in socialization and formation of cultural identity in Malaysia, funded by the Research University Grant TEACHING AND WORKING EXPERIENCE Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 2005 – 2008 Gives lectures and presentations, prepare courseware for students and involved in research work. Has taught: Intercultural Communication, Organizational Writing, The Global Media, Organizations and Public Policy, Desktop Publishing, Advisor for student magazine: Advocacy, Advisor for student bi-yearly newspaper: Nadi Bangi Journalist, New Straits Times Press Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, 2002 – 2005 Establish contact with organizations and people, press interviews, research work, attend seminars and product launches, writing, organized special pull-outs, assist in designing layout for advertorial. PUBLICATIONS Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2011) Negotiating Cultural Identities: Young Malaysian Malay’s Experience in proceedings of 2nd International SEARCH Conference 2011 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2007) Media Consumption and the Establishment of Identity: A Study on Young Felda Settlers in Malaysia in proceedings of the 14th NIC Symposium on Intercultural Communication in Vilnius University, Lithuania. MANUSCRIPTS IN PROGRESS Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (scheduled to be published in summer 2012) Westernization and Malaysian Television in The Phenomenon of Globalization: a Collection of Interdisciplinary Globalisation Research Essays to be published by Peter Lang Publishing House PRESENTATIONS AND POSTER SESSIONS Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2012) Diversified Cultural Representations on Malaysian Television at The 2nd International Conference on Human and Social Science, Tirana, Albania, March 23rd to March 24th (oral presentation) Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2012) Melayu Hebat: A Look at young Malaysian Malay’s engagement with television and its relations to the construction of cultural identity at The Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities, Osaka, Japan, April 5th to 8th (virtual oral presentation) Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2011) Negotiating Cultural Identities: Young Malaysian Malay’s Experience at the 2nd International SEARCH Conference 2011 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, May 28th to May 29th (oral presentation) Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2008) Youth and TV: A Study on Adolescents in Felda at the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Academic Poster Competition (silver medallist) Sabariah Mohamed Salleh (2007) Media Consumption and the Establishment of Identity: A Study on Young Felda Settlers in Malaysia at the 14th NIC Symposium on Intercultural Communication in Vilnius University, Lithuania. (oral presentation) REFERENCES Prof. Thomas Bauer Department of Journalism and Communication Science, University of Vienna, Austria [email protected] Prof. Dr. Adnan Hussein School of Communications, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia [email protected] Prof. Dr. Md Sidin Ahmad Ishak Department of Media Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [email protected] ABSTRACT Malaysia is a multiracial society, consisting of people from various races, with the majority being the Malay race. In its strive for modernity, Malaysia has introduced a lot of policies and new technologies, said to be for the betterment of the country.