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Volume 6 Number 10 October 2020

COVID-19 Lockdown in New York: A News Comparison Between the New York Times and Vice News


Authors: Roslina Abdul Latif ; Andre Paul Marot
Pages: 929-942
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.929.942
Abstract
The Corona virus or also known as COVID-19 has raged the world with a devastating number of lives that were lost. During the lockdown and in the times of chaos, many have relied on the media for information to keep abreast with the updates of this angry virus. The objective of this study was to find out the differences of news coverage concerning the Covid-19 pandemic between mainstream and alternative media in New York City, where it hit the worst. The New York Times and Vice News were chosen to represent the mainstream and alternative news stations, respectively. The methodology used was a qualitative content analysis to organize, extract and understand the large data sets and derive conclusions. Conclusively, this analysis is based on four criteria’s: headlines, sources, language, and visual images. A summary of the headline regarding the alternative resultantly informs us that Vice incorporates a majority of vague, misleading titles while contrastingly, the New York Times incorporates accurate and informative titles. Dissimilarities also occur with sources where a majority of citations are composed of sole informants for Vice News and multiple sources for the New York Times; authoritative and non-authoritative.

Jordan's Official Media Discourse in Light of the Coronavirus Pandemic


Authors: Dr. Mohammed Ali Al-Rousan 
Pages: 923-928
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.923.928
Abstract
The study stands on investigating the Media content of the official Jordanian broadcasting, in light of the Corona pandemic and the method used to employ the media instruments to deal with the Jordanian and global health and economical situation. Also the characteristics of its media discourse. The study relied on the descriptive and documentary analysis method to explore the Media content, guided by the systematic analysis approach about the input and output of media discourse, and the feedback to manage the media scene. The study concluded that Jordanian Media discourse characterizes by the participatory, integrative, and interactive approach within the two main parties of the crisis represented in the government and the public recipient, where the health and economic media releases its Media agenda which enabled it to employ its previous experiences and gain new experiences that could be added to the national Media experiences in the other world countries.

An Analysis of the Impact of Various Sampling Designs on the Headcount Index: A Simulation Study Based on the EU-SILC


Authors: Pablo J. Moya Fernández ; Encarnación Álvarez ; Ángela González Medina
Pages: 914-922
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.914.922
Abstract
The analysis and the comparison of poverty between regions and countries are important topics in social sciences, which have relevant demands of many national (Cáritas, Intermón Oxfam, Cruz Roja, etc) and international (UN, World Bank, OECD, Eurostat, IMF, etc) agencies and organizations. One of the most common poverty indicators in practice is the headcount index, which analyzes the proportion of individuals considered as poor in a population. In this paper, we first analyze the impact on the headcount index when different sampling designs are considered. Note that this study is based on real data sets taken from different countries of the European Union, and the empirical measures for comparisons are based on different Monte Carlo simulation studies. For instance, we observe that stratified sampling has the best performance in comparison to alternative sampling designs. Post-stratification performs similar to simple random sampling without replacement, and the use of auxiliary information provides similar results to ones derived from stratified sampling. Second, we also analyze the empirical performance of different variance estimators under the commented sampling designs. We conclude that they have a similar empirical performance, and they provide, in general, confidence intervals with desirable coverage rates.

Socio-Economic Issues and Challenges in Male Child Preference in Nigeria


Authors: Etuk Grace R. ; Obeten Ude B. ; Ojua Takim A.
Pages: 908-913
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.908.913
Abstract
Preference for male children is a global phenomenon. However, it is more seriously practiced in highly traditional societies of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The practice is particularly widespread in Nigeria, where for cultural and familial justifications families express subtle and sometimes outright preference for male children over females. Unfortunately, this leads to unintended consequences, not only for the families involved but also for the larger society. Against this backdrop, therefore, this paper attempts to articulate the rationale for male child preference, the extent of the practice, as well as some of its damaging consequences and the attendant implications for the Nigerian society in particular. Whereas in the quest for male children, the focus is usually on the seeming gains, which constitute the motivators for families that would stop at nothing to have them. However, attention is drawn in this paper to the other side of the coin, and emphasis is laid on the need for the practice to be checkmated using appropriate institutional tools.

Assessment of Risk Factors of Hypertension among Pakistani People Living in Populated Cities of the Country


Authors: Benish ; Brice Wilfried Obiang-Obounou
Pages: 900-907
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.900.907
Abstract
The association between diet, age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and hypertension are well recognized among developing countries. However, the main factors causing hypertension in Pakistan are still not clear. Hypertension is complex and multi factorial. The current article summarizes some of the known factors responsible for hypertension within populated cities of Pakistan. This review was focused on ethnic group of people living within country. Random or multistage screening, socioeconomic status or hypertensive condition was considered during selection of subjects. The dietary patterns in relation with hypertension and other health problems were studied. Studies showed a prominent occurrence among urban adults, particularly women. The Diet transition towards the DASH Diet has been attributed to lower blood pressures. This review highlights the fact that dietary pattern, socioeconomic status, gender, age and obesity is associated with hypertension.

Factors Influencing China’s Oil Diplomacy in the Middle East


Authors: Seyedashkan Madani ; Seyedjavad Khoshghalb Toosi ; Ali Gholizadeh
Pages: 890-899
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.890.899
Abstract
Even though China extracts oil more than any other country in the Asia-Pacific region, the country is still hugely dependent on imports, and this dependence increases with each passing year. In recent years, the need for import of oil in China had risen from 35% in 2000 to 70% in 2017. Today, the People’s Republic of China mainly buys crude oil in the Middle East and political change in the region directly influence on Chinese foreign policy. In this study, we examined four critical factors that influence china’s oil diplomacy in the Middle East. Accordingly, Arab spring events, OPEC, China foreign policies and strategies, and influence of the U.S. in the region have direct or indirect effects on china’s oil diplomacy. China’s historical reaction to these factors is remarkable and made its energy security strategies in the Middle east. This study shows that the events of the Arab Spring hurt China’s oil diplomacy with the middle East countries. The developments taking place in the Middle East from the beginning of the Arab Spring have led to an increase in world oil prices. For China, this meant higher import bills and a reduction in the trade surplus, as well as slower economic growth, as the contribution of net exports decreased. OPEC market controlling strategies let China thinks to other oil producers, and oil exports from the Middle East reduced in front of increasing imports from other regions. U.S. as hegemon of the area somehow made steady pressure on China alliance, especially after making sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear programs. During the trade war between the two countries, the influence of the U.S. on China oil diplomacy more appeared.

Military and Civil Communication in Citarum Harum Program in West Java, Indonesia


Authors: Selamat Ginting ; Ahmad Mulyana
Pages: 881-889
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.881.889
Abstract
Communication of military organizations outside the battlefield in the Indonesian National Military (TNI) organization is manifested through TNI social communication. Implemented through Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP). The Indonesian Army formed the Citarum Harum task force after the Citarum River problem became an international concern. This study aims: 1) Model to analyze the communication of the Indonesian Army in building public awareness to restore the sustainability of the Citarum River; 2) Revealing the communication of the Indonesian Army Armed Forces to the public so that the Citarum Harum program can be achieved; 3) Revealing the form of cooperation between the Indonesian Army and the mass media in the Citarum Harum program. Research is based on the philosophy of post-positivism. Type of qualitative research. The nature of descriptive research. Case study research method. The technique of studying data is through data triangulation. Checking the correctness of data or information obtained by researchers from various points of view. The results of the study: 1) Military communication skills for regional officials are needed; 2) To create an understanding with the community, it is necessary to focus on listening to the aspirations of the community by living in people’s homes and providing examples of working to protect the environment; 3) Collaborating with journalists to always actively publish in mass media and online media. Conclusion: 1) Organizational organization, internal communication organization is very important to support organizational activities. 2) TNI social communication functions to take a persuasion approach and increase public understanding of military organizations. 3) The communication strategy carried out by the Siliwangi Military Regional Command provides information and publication of the Citarum Harum Program every day to the mass media and facilitates to facilitate the coverage process.

Capital Structure and Financial Performance of Quoted Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria


Authors: Samuel Adebayo Olaoye ; Abolade Francis Akintola ; Timothy Adisa Soetan ; Netufo Cornelius Olusola
Pages: 874-880
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.610.874.880
Abstract
The capital structure involves the decision about the combination of the various sources of funds a firm uses to finance its operations and capital investments. These sources include the use of long-term debt finance called debt financing, as well as preferred stock and common stock also called equity financing. One of the most important goals of financial managers is to maximize shareholder’s wealth through the determination of the best combination of financial resources for a company and maximization of the company’s value by determining where to invest their resources. The study evaluated the effect of capital structure on the financial performance of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study employed the ex post facto research design. The population of the study consisted of the quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria made up of 71 companies as of 31st December 2017 according to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), which formed the entire population of the study. The study employed convenience sampling in the selection of the sampled companies. Data from the research were obtained from the annual reports of the sampled companies. The study adopted descriptive and inferential statistics. The finding of the study indicated that capital structure influences the performance of the quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study concluded that capital structure has a significant relationship with the financial performance of listed manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study recommended that management should ensure that proper capital structure is maintained to improve financial performance and to allow for an increase in dividend payment and retained earnings for expansion.