Abstract

The studies of framing have been so far focusing on the analysis of media effects or the frame-setting process. Comparatively, the process of building media frames that takes place in the newsrooms has received meagre attention from the scholars. And traditionally, most of the studies that investigate frame-building process have their attention centred on the internal factors, including newsroom practices and characteristics of the journalist. External factors, especially the interaction between media and news sources, are thus far being overlooked. On that account, this study seeks to examine the influences of the above two variables on frame-building process through examination of a contemporary issue in Malaysia – teaching Mathematics and Science in English. The scrutiny of the role of news sources in the process of frame-building may contribute significantly to the knowledge of framing studies. Based on the 1,156 units of analysis collected from five Malaysian Chinese dailies, the study’s findings show that news sources or frame sponsors are comparatively more influential in the frame-building process.

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