This week's brief presents findings from 11 to 18 September 2026, when 348 election-related news items were recorded and analysed. This was a slight increase of 13 items, or approximately 4%, from the 335 stories recorded in the previous reporting period. The increase coincided with

intensified campaigning, greater party mobilisation and growing media attention as the election period progressed; however, the monitoring data alone do not establish which of these developments caused the change.

The findings from this monitoring cycle provide insight into the evolving nature of election coverage across the country. Analysis of the 348 monitored items highlights the key local government issues receiving media attention, assesses the visibility and prominence of political parties in news reporting, and examines the gender distribution of sources contributing to election-related discourse. Together, these findings offer an important snapshot of how the media is shaping public understanding of the electoral process and the issues influencing voters ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Read the complete brief below