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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Mass Communication

Theses & Dissertations

Theses/Dissertations

2020

Articles 1 - 10 of 10

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Challenges Of Implementing Convergence In Kenyan Newsrooms: A Case Of The Standard Group Plc, Julian Wanjiru Kamau Jan 2020

Challenges Of Implementing Convergence In Kenyan Newsrooms: A Case Of The Standard Group Plc, Julian Wanjiru Kamau

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to find out the challenges of implementing convergence in Kenyan newsrooms: A case of the Standard Group PLC. This study was guided by three objectives: (1) Factors driving the need for newsroom convergence, (2) Key actors driving the convergence process at Standard Group PLC and (3) Challenges of implementing convergence at SG. The study was guided by two theories – Media Convergence Theory and Disruptive Innovation Theory. This study used a Qualitative Research Approach, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 13 participants from the institution and one Focus Group Discussion with 9 participants from all editorial departments …


Online Audience As Gatekeepers: The Influence Of Web Analytics On Content Selection In Kenya’S Top Five News Websites, Joel Mulonzi Muinde Jan 2020

Online Audience As Gatekeepers: The Influence Of Web Analytics On Content Selection In Kenya’S Top Five News Websites, Joel Mulonzi Muinde

Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the adoption of web analytics by Kenya's top five news websites as ranked by Alexa.com on how online audiences impact news selection by online editors. The study was guided by four research objectives: (i) to determine to what extent web analytics monitoring are done by editorial teams, (ii) to establish factors driving the use of web analytics and what tools used, (iii) to establish how use of web analytics contributes to editorial decisions, and (iv) to identify the relationship between the use of web analytics and business decisions in newsrooms. The study was guided by two theories: …


Coverage Of The Big Four Agenda In The Daily Nation And The Standard Newspapers In Kenya, John Kuru Ngirachu Jan 2020

Coverage Of The Big Four Agenda In The Daily Nation And The Standard Newspapers In Kenya, John Kuru Ngirachu

Theses & Dissertations

This thesis set out to study the coverage of the Kenyan government’s Big Four Agenda by Kenyan newspapers between December 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. The Big Four Agenda was introduced to Kenyans on December 12, 2017, Independence Day, by President Uhuru Kenyatta. He framed the Big Four Agenda as the most important policy of his second term and had specific objectives to be met by 2022: to construct 500,000 affordable houses, to increase the contribution of manufacturing to the Gross Domestic Product, food security for all, and Universal Health Coverage. This thesis was provoked by a study by …


A Changing Profession: Examining Newsroom Roles And Skills In The Digital Age, Kenfrey Mwenda Kiberenge Jan 2020

A Changing Profession: Examining Newsroom Roles And Skills In The Digital Age, Kenfrey Mwenda Kiberenge

Theses & Dissertations

This study examined how journalists can survive in the newsrooms in Kenya in the digital age. The study was guided by four research questions: (1) What are the emergent newsroom roles in the digital age? (2) What retooling and reskilling do media workers need to survive in the digital age? (3) How do journalists acquire the new skills? (4) What role has digital disruption played in the reorganisation of newsrooms? The study used two theoretical frameworks: The theory of disruptive innovations and de-professionalisation lens. The researcher conducted face to face in-depth interviews with eight journalists from four media houses namely: …


The Power Of Satire: An Analysis Of Gado’S Cartoons In The Standard Newspapers, Kenneth Kipruto Ng'etich Jan 2020

The Power Of Satire: An Analysis Of Gado’S Cartoons In The Standard Newspapers, Kenneth Kipruto Ng'etich

Theses & Dissertations

Editorial cartoons form a key part of newspapers, offering much-needed comic relief to acres of news stories. Godfrey Mwapembwa, popularly known by his pen name Gado, has been described by the Financial Times as East Africa’s most important syndicated cartoonist. Yet no extensive scholarly study has been done on the way Gado frames his drawings. This study analysed how politics, politicians and political issues are framed in Gado’s editorial cartoons by looking at his illustrations published by The Standard between November 1, 2018 and October 31, 2019. It starts with a brief look at modern trends in editorial cartoons. The …


Online Audience Feedback And Media Accountability In Kenya’S Mainstream Media, Ann Adhiambo Okumu Jan 2020

Online Audience Feedback And Media Accountability In Kenya’S Mainstream Media, Ann Adhiambo Okumu

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to find out if online audience feedback in terms of engagement, correction and criticism of news stories produced by the media, leads to certain decisions by the media that amounts to accountability. The objectives of this study were; (a) to examine the nature of audience feedback to news stories in Kenya, (b) to determine how media responds to audience feedback on news stories, (c) to examine how the engagement, correction and criticism of news stories by online audiences leads to more accountability in the media, (d) to establish whether prompt reaction by online audience has led to …


Newspaper’S Quest For Survival In The Era Of Digital Disruption: The Case Of The Daily Nation, Dave Oluoch Opiyo Jan 2020

Newspaper’S Quest For Survival In The Era Of Digital Disruption: The Case Of The Daily Nation, Dave Oluoch Opiyo

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to find out the effect digital disruption has had on the Daily Nation Newspaper, while also looking at the strategies the publication has put in place to ensure its survival. The study was guided by the following: (a) The changes and challenges posed by digital disruption on the newspaper and how this has affected its operations, (b) The strategies employed by the newspaper to respond to disruption and (c) The effectiveness of these survival and growth strategies. The study was guided by two theories – Disruption Innovation Theory and Media Economics Theory. The researcher used a Qualitative …


Opportunities Digital Technologies Present For Women In Media: Multi-Case Study Of Newsrooms In Kenya, Faith P. Oneya Jan 2020

Opportunities Digital Technologies Present For Women In Media: Multi-Case Study Of Newsrooms In Kenya, Faith P. Oneya

Theses & Dissertations

This study is an exploration of the opportunities digital technologies present for women in media. Digital technologies have been praised for providing opportunities to journalism as a whole but little is known regarding those offered to women in newsrooms. The objectives of this study were to: (a) determine new ways women are participating in journalism because of digitisation, (b) establish the new forms of journalism where women have thrived and (c) explore the structures that support women working with digital technologies in the newsroom. The theory that guided the study was Technological Determinism. It employed the phenomenological research tradition. The …


Ethical Decision-Making In The Digital Age: The Case Of Graphic Images In Kenyan Print And Online Newspapers, Patrick Gathara Jan 2020

Ethical Decision-Making In The Digital Age: The Case Of Graphic Images In Kenyan Print And Online Newspapers, Patrick Gathara

Theses & Dissertations

This study examined how the online environment has influenced ethical decision-making in Kenyan print and online newspapers with regard to graphic images. A review of the literature showed scant academic attention has been paid to the role ethics play in the selection of images for publication despite acknowledgement of the increasing power and cultural diversity of audiences. The theoretical framework of the study was based on Gatekeeping Theory and Spiral of Silence Theory. Through indepth interviews with senior editors and a review of internal and external guidelines and policies, the research revealed that audience demands for ethical decisions from editors …


Self-Censorship And Journalism Practice In Mainstream Media In Kenya, James Odhiambo Okong'o Jan 2020

Self-Censorship And Journalism Practice In Mainstream Media In Kenya, James Odhiambo Okong'o

Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between self-censorship and the practice of journalism in Kenya's mainstream media by answering the following questions: What factors drive self-censorship in Kenya's media? What impact does self-censorship have on the practice of journalism? And are journalists willing to self-censor? The study also discusses the findings of different scholars on self-censorship in Africa and other continents. Kenya has one of the most robust and pluralistic media in Africa, however, it still faces challenges in achieving its full potential as a public watchdog. The findings of this study show that self-censorship is a serious threat to the …