客觀報導與公眾服務──一九九八年香港立法會選舉電視採訪報導研究

Objective Reporting and Public Service-- A Study of Television News Coverage On Hong Kong's Legislative Council Elections in 1998

香港於九八年舉行主權回歸中國後首次的立法會選舉。本研究的目的，是評估電視新聞媒體報導該次選舉時的表現。評估以兩項新聞規範－－客觀性及公眾服務－－為準則，分析範圍是香港三間電視台在競選期及投票日報導的選舉新聞。候選人在選舉新聞中的出鏡及發言時間均予紀錄，互相比較，以察見不同候選人及政黨在報導數量上的差異。同時，候選人出鏡及發言時間又按報導的調子是否中立來分類，並根據報導不同候選人所用調子的分佈情況，分析電視新聞媒體的中立性。另一方面，選舉新聞及由傳媒策動的選舉報導均作內容分析，從而評估電視傳媒在公眾服務方面貢獻如何。分析的重點放在兩方面：電視新聞提供有用資訊是否利於選民作明智的投票決定，及電視傳媒能否充當管道，讓公眾參與選舉過程。研究結果顯示選舉新聞報導基本上客觀中立，但服務公眾方面卻表現差勁。

This study aims to assess the performance of television news media in covering Hong Kong's first Legislative Council elections in 1998 after the territory's sovereignty was reverted to the People's Republic of China. Election news produced by the three television stations in Hong Kong during the campaign period and on the voting day is assessed according to two journalistic norms: objectivity and public service. Face time and voice time of candidates who appeared in election news is recorded and compared as a means to quantify the differences of coverage among competing candidates and political parties. The tone of election coverage where candidates appeared and/or spoke is also coded. Based on the distribution of various tones used for reporting different candidates, the neutrality of television news media is thus analyzed. On the other hand, based on a content analysis of election news reports, and media- initiated election news in particular, the extent of public service delivered by election news is assessed. This is evaluated in terms of how useful the information conveyed by election news is in helping the voter make an informed electoral choice and how accessible television news media are to the public as a channel for participation in the electoral process. Results show that the television new media produced basically objective news reports but failed in their public service role.