News of battering in Singapore : reporting domestic violence in the Straits Times

Abstract

Studies have shown that the media are an effective venue for placing issues on the public agenda. This process occurs through the media's attribution of salience and reporting of specific topics. In Singapore, the media are committed to a form of community journalism which focuses on nation building and reporting of community issues. This study localizes the portrayal of women in the media within the parameters of the Singaporean press. Specifically, it focuses on the portrayal of battered women and domestic violence in the Straits Times with the objective of evaluating the newspaper's performance in setting the agenda of a social issue. The study also explores how battered women are portrayed in the local press.