Live analysis of State of the Nation Address

Pre-SONA assessment results will be made available exclusively through Business Day Online on the day of the address. Business Day Online will also carry ongoing updates, including post-SONA assessments, which will be available until Monday 13 February.

Described as a first in South Africa, the comprehensive media analysis will be conducted by media research house Media Tenor and online reputation management business BrandsEye.

In-depth analysis

Media Tenor has conducted an in-depth analysis of traditional media's anticipations around SONA, comparing the results to previous years. BrandsEye will assess pre- and post-SONA anticipations and expectations expressed in social and other online media.

The research is part of a project by the two organisations to understand the reciprocal relationship between traditional and social media. It will also include the budget speech being presented by minister of finance, Pravin Gordhan on 22 February.

"Research that assesses to what extent traditional media are influencing the perception of people that express their opinion in social media is a first for South Africa," said Wadim Schreiner, MD of Media Tenor. "While there is awareness of the growing importance of social media in the country, there is little empirical research that assesses the relationship between traditional and social media."

"Allow for an immediate assessment"

"The live analysis of social commentary around SONA will allow for an immediate assessment of the market's view towards the policy directions expressed by the president," says Tim Shier, MD of BrandsEye. "It will provide for an immediate understanding of the individual issues that find support or rejection. In turn, it will form the basis for a good understanding of public support in a year that is bound to be politically charged."

The companies will also present the analysis of the actual speech as well as real-time reactions expressed in social media on 9 February. This can be accessed via www.brandseye.com/sona from 7pm onwards. It will be featured on eNews during and after the broadcast of SONA.