Analysis of Presentation of News Relating to Protected Areason Newspaper Media

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to characterize and to study tendency of the presentation of news relating to protected areas on newspaper, to study attitudes of reporters toward protected area management, to study perception on news, attitudes toward protected area management and on-site behavior of protected areas' visitors, and to test the influence of perception on news on attitudes and behavior of the visitors. Content analysis of news relating to protected areas on newspapers during 1st January - 31st December 2006 was performed. Four newspapers, including Thairath, Daily News, Khaosod and Matichon were used in the analysis. Questionnaire was use to collect data from 53 reporters and from 200 protected areas' visitors. The study found 471 pieces of news and articles relating to protected areas were presented in the four newspapers in 2006. The highest number of news was about national parks. Matichon was the newspaper that presented largest number of news and articles relating to protected areas. Most reporters held positive attitudes toward protected area management (x̄ = 3.990; SD=0.428). The level of visitors' perception on news was low x̄= 3.356; SD = 0.324). However, their on-site behavior was positive (x̄ = 17.62; SD = 2.254) as well as their attitude toward protected areas management x̄ = 3.78; SD = 0.45). Result from multiple regression analysis found that visitors' perception on news did not influence visitors' behavior and their attitudes toward protected area management. There was significantly different in attitudes toward protected area management of reporters and protected area visitors (t=3.167; P=0.002).

Keywords: Protected Areas, News, Newspaper