The Relationship of Exposure to News Media with Attachment to the National Ethos

This study tested the assumption that national media played an important role in promoting astrong national ethos among Malaysians. As youth are heavy consumer of media and playimportant ro les in further progressing the country economically and po litically, it is very pertinentto examine the strength of the nationa l ethos among the Malaysian youth ofvarious ethnic groups,and the relationship between the exposure to the news media and strength of their nationalethos. A total of606 students from ten u niversities and colleges aged between 18 to 27 years wereinterviewed in a national survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Three d imensions ofthe national ethos emerged from the data and the students had positive perceptions towardselected characteristics of the country. However, there is a significant difference among thethree ethnic groups in their degree of attachment to the three differe nt dimensions ofthe nationalethos. An overall exposure to the news media has a positive and significant relationship with theshared identity and future dimens ion, and shared history and values dimension of the nationalethos.