Social Media Commons^™

An Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage Of Far-Flung Counties In Kenya, Galgallo Duba Fayo

Theses & Dissertations

This study explored how the Kenyan Print Media covers far-flung counties, with a case study of Marsabit, Turkana and Mandera counties. The following research objectives guided the study: (i) To analyse the prominence of Marsabit, Turkana and Mandera Counties issues by the Daily Nation and The Standard (ii) To determine the frames that the Daily Nation used and The Standard in coverage of issues from far-flung counties and (iii) To analyse the extent to which stories from the three counties published by the publications draw from local sources and realities. The two newspapers were selected from the population of 44 …

The Acquisition Of Knowledge And Practical Skills By Freelance Media Practitioners In The Digital Era, Loyce Achieng’ Odhiambo

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to understand how freelance media practitioners are acquiring knowledge and practical skills for the different newsrooms they produce content for in the current digital world, a time when there are dynamic technological trends and an audience that is not only changing but also creating news and media content. The study was based on the Skill Acquisition Theory, which describes how people progress in learning a variety of skills, from beginner to advanced proficiency. The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods by use of questionnaires and interview guides. Data emanating from the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS and …

Uses And Gratifications Of Sensationalised Content On The Digital Native News Websites In Kenya, Lynet Igadwah

Theses & Dissertations

The changing media landscape in a digital era has led to increased competition between legacy and new media as the clamour for audience attention takes centre stage. As more people move to access their news online, online-only journalistic brands, otherwise known as digital native news websites, are giving mainstream media a run for their money. These sites are tapping more on internet penetration and digital technologies to drive traffic to their sites particularly using social media as a window. These digital native sites are typically big on photos, bear flashy and bold headlines and are more entertainment-focused, emphasising attracting eyeballs …

The Changing Ecology Of News: The Impact Of Social Networking Sites On The Production Of News And The Gatekeeping Role Of Legacy Media Editors, Derrick Oluoch

Theses & Dissertations

The media landscape is changing, especially as more and more media audiences embrace social networking sites and consume their news content from social networking sites. Even as media organizations grapple with declining operations due to their traditional models of operation, media editors face a myriad of challenges, including competing with citizen journalism as they push to maintain and retain their journalistic duty of gatekeeping. In the face of the changing ecology of news, this study sought to establish the impact of social networking sites on the production of news and on the gatekeeping role of legacy media editors. The objectives …

Print Media Coverage Of Politicians With Active Economic Crime Cases In Kenya: A Case Of Daily Nation And The Standard Newspapers, Donald Magomere Nyonje

Theses & Dissertations

In the run-up to the 2022 general elections in Kenya, there was a general concern about political candidates vying for elective seats with active economic crimes cases. This study set to establish print media’s coverage of politicians with active economic crimes, analyse the framing of political candidates with active economic crime cases and identify factors that influence the framing of these political candidates during the electioneering period. Anchored on the framing theory, the first and second phases of the project entail content analysis, during which the data gathered was coded, analysed, and presented using tables. The third phase incorporated in-depth …

Ruben Fm And Its Involvement In Socio-Economic Challenges Of Mukuru Kwa Ruben Slums Of Nairobi, Henix Obuchunju

Theses & Dissertations

vii ABSTRACT Slums are a reflection of underdeveloped and marginalisation. It is so yet the traditional watchdog genre of journalism and the commercial press are both as old as the slums themselves. Past studies show that community radios are struggling with feedback. As such they are yet to assess their value to the world. This study sought to assess the impact of the Mukuru kwa Ruben-based Ruben FM in addressing the socio- economic needs of its listeners; and whether it is advancing the tenets of Solutions Journalism practice. That is; coverage of solutions rather than the problems. The study relied …

Moi’S Legacy – Remembrance Or Mis-Remembrance? Four Kenyan Dailies’ Coverage Of Late President Moi Following His Demise On February 4, 2020, Dennis Oduor Ogongo

Theses & Dissertations

When Kenya’s second and longest-serving President died on February 4, 2020, four local dailies Daily Nation, The Standard, People Daily and The Star were dominated by stories around his legacy. This was because Moi was the longest-serving President in Kenya, having been in power for 24 years, unprecedented. His tenure in power was marred with various controversial events, including an attempted coup, a single-party state, amongst many other events that have had a significant impact in Kenya’s history, making his death an event of interest to reevaluate his legacy. This study aimed to analyze the dominant thematic narratives in the …

Analysis Of Kenya’S Print Media Framing Of The Dusit D2 Terror Suspects, Ibrahim Galgalo Bocha

Theses & Dissertations

The reporting of Terror Incidents (TIs) by the media in Kenya started when the first case was reported under the reign of President Jomo Kenyatta (1963-1978), with the first incident reported in 1980, when Palestinian militants staged an attack at Norfolk Hotel on New Year’s eve. Whereas the media has had to balance covering TIs in a timely, factual and objective manner, journalists also need to frame their narratives to reflect the event's social, economic and psychological dimensions. They strive to avoid sensationalism, bias and a presentation of facts that could be seen to fan militants’ propaganda. This study aimed …

Evaluating The Impact Of Defamation Judgments On Coverage Of Corruption By Kenyan Media: A Case Study Of Standard Group Plc And Nation Media Group, John Kamau Muthoni

Theses & Dissertations

The media in Kenya has been under much pressure to remodel the news business to attract revenue amidst technology disruption, tough regulations and defamation cases. This study set out to evaluate the impact of defamation judgments in the coverage of corruption in Kenya. It employed questionnaires and oral interviews as ways or tools of gathering data. Data was collected at two levels: interviews with editors, and questionnaires administered to journalists. Purposive sampling was used to select Nation Media Group (NMG) and Standard Group (SG) in Nairobi as the study locations and a sample of 10 editors. In addition, 242 journalists …

An Evaluation Of Content Selection And Utility Value Of Kenyan Digital Content: A Study Of Tuko And Citizen Websites, Basillioh Rukanga

Theses & Dissertations

Globally, media companies have been grappling with declining revenues. Content is the primary good they sell to consumers; the main way they make revenues. Yet as technology has changed in recent times, the consumers’ habits have changed, and so have the ability of media companies to make money out of the content they produce. The focus of this research was the evaluation of content selection based on two websites: Citizen Digital and Tuko websites. The study sought to identify the top stories of each website and find out the nature and type of the content offered by the websites and …

The Influence Of Cyberspace Regulations On The Practice Of Online Journalism In Uganda, Patience Ndinawe

Theses & Dissertations

The study assessed how cyberspace regulations have influenced the practice of online journalism in Uganda. The study's specific objectives were: to find out journalists’ and regulators’ understanding of cyberspace regulations in Uganda, to explore ways used to regulate online journalism in Uganda, and to examine how the implementation of cyberspace regulation in Uganda has affected online journalism practice. The study used a qualitative research method and an explorative research design that involved an in-depth and extensive investigation of a specific instance. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach, with interviews and document reviews. Findings reveal that most online journalists …

Coverage Of Environmental Issues By The Kenyan Media. A Case Study Of Citizen Television, Scarlet Chebet Chemarum

Theses & Dissertations

Media worldwide has always been a strong instrument for disseminating, promoting awareness and establishing of social, economic and political agendas. There is no denying that environmental issues such as climate change are indeed on the rise worldwide, and while the media covers these environment and climate change calamities, events and news-making stories, that is as far as the story goes. That said the need for a well-informed public on environmental issues has increasingly become very crucial, especially with the growing concerns over environmental issues worldwide. Environmental issues have thus fast become an area of much interest and debate. Developed nations …

Media Framing Of Islam In The Coverage Of Terrorism In Kenya, Stephen Maina Kamau

Theses & Dissertations

This research used framing theory to analyse the media framing of Islam in the subsequent coverage of the 2015 Garissa University terror attack in Kenya. Daily Nation and The Standard newspapers adopted a quantitative research approach and descriptive content analysis research design. Data was captured from 3rd April 2015 to 10th April 2015, where 112 stories were selected for analysis. Specifically, the research sought to determine the tone of Islam in subsequent coverage of the Garissa University terror attack during the first seven days. Secondly, it examined the prominence of stories touching on Islam during subsequent coverage of the Garissa …

Gatekeeping Processes In Content Produced By Kenyan News Content Creators On Youtube, Judith Vereso Mwanga

Theses & Dissertations

Gatekeeping is a crucial process in journalistic content production and especially news. This is because the information collected from various sources must be subjected to journalistic practices such as verification to establish authenticity before dissemination to audiences. The growing popularity of online media content and the desire to attract more followers means news content creators on YouTube could be conflicted on the key reason they are producing content for the platform. The study aimed to establish the gatekeeping process employed by Kenyan news content creators producing content on YouTube and whether decisions are in the public’s interest or lack thereof. …

The Effects Of Social Media On Newspaper Content Distribution: A Case Study Of The Star Newspaper, Mercy Gakii Kiunga

Theses & Dissertations

The Star newspaper is arguably the epitome of bold experimentation in the newspaper industry in Kenya. Over time, Star has evolved from a social features newspaper to a political newspaper, growing from a weekly tabloid to a daily circulation newspaper. It is now at the forefront of distributing content on social media channels, print circulation, and digital platforms. This research explored the influence of social media channels on content distribution in Star newspaper. As people use social media platforms to consume news, an increasing number of newspaper channels are turning to social media to catch users' attention. The use of …

Monetisation Of Digital Media, Its Impact On News And Journalism, Irine Julia Majale

Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to investigate the implications monetization strategies of the digital native media houses operating in Kenya have on the quality of the journalism produced in digital newsrooms. This is prompted by the challenges experienced by media houses in generating revenue and the tremendous disruption in the media industry occasioned by technology. Digital native media houses largely depend on revenue streams built on programmatic channels and social media platforms. New entrants of tech giants have also drastically changed the media landscape as they eat into the revenue initially taken by the media players, which has posed a threat to …

The Impact Of Gender Differences And Geographic Locations On Social Media Literacy Among Public Universities Students, Heba Tallah Moustafa Helmy

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of both gender difference and geographic location on social media literacy levels among undergraduate students in public universities in Egypt. Four aspects related to social media literacy were considered in the Likert-scale survey, including basic technical skills, digital interactions, information evaluation, and privacy and security practices. A total of 520 students participated in this exploratory research, of which 265 males and 255 females enrolled at four public universities in different geographic locations. Cairo University and Ain Shams University represent the urban areas. The other two universities are located in center-periphery …

Tiktok Battlefield: Comparative Analysis Of English And Arabic Language Representations Of The 2022 Russian Ukrainian Conflict On Tiktok, Dina Magdeldin Mahmoud Elhawary

Theses and Dissertations

This study extends the growing political communication research on TikTok platform through studying the representation of a major political conflict in modern history; the 2022 Russian Ukrainian conflict. The study is providing a cross cultural comparison by studying the perspectives of English and Arabic speakers about the conflict. The study is based on the analysis of the 500 most liked TikTok videos - in one month duration that starts with the day of the Russian invasion - with top hashtags about the conflict in order to find the common message themes. The study uses a multi-dimensional analysis approach of connective …

Impact Of Social Media  On Public Perception Of Government Covid-19 Response Efforts, Taher Taher

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to understand this phenomenon to provide insights into how governments can perform better in times of crisis regarding social media and its impact on public opinion. This research aims to understand how social media impacts public perception of government COVID-19 response efforts by studying Facebook comments, likes, and reactions (emoticons).

The study was based on data gathered from Facebook comments on the daily infographic COVID-19 statistics from the official site of the Ministry of Health and Population. The sampling frame is the 52 weeks of 2020, January to December, through random sampling resulting in 546 comments. The …

Artificially Intelligent Communication: An Exploratory Study On Replika Mobile Application, Nouran El-Ashry

Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to address artificial intelligence from a communication perspective by looking at the usage of Replika, an AI-based platform. A quantitative survey was conducted to analyze the frequency of usage, attitude toward the application and the level of attachment to it. Moreover, qualitative questions were developed to get in-depth understanding of the type of relationship users have with their Replika application and reasons behind their usage. Results show no significant relationship between demographics and the application consumption except for age where older users communicate more frequently with the application than younger ones. Moreover, attachment levels were related to …