Panjab University researcher receives patent for newspaper content analysis scale

Mukesh Kumar, a researcher who was with the Centre for Mass Communication Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, got a patent for creating a “Digital Scale for Newspaper Content Analysis”. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Maulana Mazharul Haq Arabic and Persian University, Patna.

The Patent Office of the Government of India has issued a patent certificate for “Digital Scale for Newspaper Content Analysis” created by him.

• The nine-point parameter for content analysis of news stories constructed by the researcher — Who, What, Where, When and Why, How and relevant elements of 7Cs of communication (Clarity, Continuity and Credibility).
• The five-point parameter for the content analysis of editorials — What and Why, How and relevant elements of 7Cs (Clarity and Continuity).
• The three-point parameter for the content analysis of letters to the editor — What, Clarity and Continuity.
• For the quantitative content analysis, the following factors were taken into consideration:
• Measuring the data text in cm square.
• Measuring the picture in cm square.
• Determining the style of headline.
• Analysing news stories on following basis: a) With or without the picture. b) Whether the inverted pyramid style of writing was used or not. c) Whether the story carried byline of reporter or not.

Regarding this scale, Mukesh Kumar said, “This scale has been created for content analysis of newspapers. With its help qualitative and quantitative analysis of newspapers, news, editorials and letters to the editor can be done.”

Dedicating the scale to his research guide Prof Archana Rakesh Singh, Kumar said it was created for content analysis under her guidance during his PhD research from the Centre for Mass Communication Studies, Panjab University.

Expressing happiness over the grant of patent to Kumar, Prof Archana Singh said, “The scale was developed to uniquely place the qualitative and quantitative parameters of content analysis of news stories. Mukesh Kumar has travelled all over the country to analyse the contents of Hindi newspapers using this scale. The award of the patent is a feather in the cap of Kumar as well as the School of Communication Studies.”

Kumar who was a senior research fellow of the University Grants Commission received his doctorate on the topic “Local Media in Global Scenario: A Content Analysis of Small Hindi Newspapers in India” from the Centre for Mass Communication Studies, Panjab University.

During his research, he analysed the data of 38 small newspapers from 19 states on the basis of this scale.