Digital Commons Network^™

Hyperlocal Digital Content Profits: Strategizing Revenue Generation For New Vision Podcasts, Athman Raziah

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone project explores how traditional media houses can generate revenue from hyperlocal digital content, focusing specifically on podcasts. As consumer habits and advertising trends shift towards digital platforms; traditional media outlets face the challenge of reaching niche audiences and convincing advertisers to invest in digital advertising, particularly in the realm of podcasts. With the decline in physical newspaper readership, the digital wave has gained significant momentum, leading to a transition from traditional media to more accessible and fragmented platforms. This project aims to design a sustainable revenue-generating strategy for New Vision podcasts, addressing the unfamiliarity of producers, media executives, …

Upskilling And Retooling Regional Correspondents In A Changing Media Landscape: A Case Study Of Royal Media Services Limited., Fayzah Wanjiru

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

Regional correspondents play a major role in the media in Kenya by bringing into the national discourse local stories from rural, marginalized, and isolated communities, as well as from other towns away from the capital city or the head office of a media organization. Advancements in technology in the digital era have transformed the media landscape, forcing the media to adopt new business models as audience consumption habits change. Regional correspondents must equip themselves with relevant skills to adapt to the evolving media landscape. Industry players have found that regional correspondents lack competency skills. Ireri (2017) argued that journalists feel …

News Media Content Shifts And Declining Youth News Consumption In Uganda’S Legacy Media: A Case Study Of The New Vision., Alex Bagyenzire Atuhaire

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

The decline in the number of young people consuming news media is a phenomenon occasioned by the digital migration of the youthful population, media content disruptions, market competition and rapid technological innovations. These forces, together with the highly youthful population in Uganda that has either migrated to digital platforms or are digital natives have not only resulted in shifts in consumption habits but also a decline in legacy media consumption. Using The New Vision as a case, the project sought to analyse and explore media news content changes and youth news consumption levels in the Ugandan media focusing on key …

Factors Affecting Retention Of Journalists At Etop Radio In Soroti City, Eastern Uganda., Joseph Akiiso

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This research investigates the factors affecting journalist retention at ETOP Radio, located in Soroti City, Eastern Uganda. Through a descriptive survey design, the study employs questionnaires and interviews to achieve its objectives. These objectives include analyzing factors leading to the turnover of talented journalists, exploring contributors to staff retention, and assessing and recommending strategies to boost staff retention within the ETOP Radio Human Resource Department. The findings reveal that a majority of journalists at ETOP Radio plan to continue their tenure, indicating a moderate level of employee satisfaction. The study further identifies strengths such as effective two-way communication, fostering a …

The Gig Economy And Labour Resource Practices: A Case Study Of Africa Uncensored Limited, John Allan Namu

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

The following capstone paper discusses an emergent issue in labour relations within the media sector; contract or “gig” work. It draws on a context of nearly a decade of falling profits and failing business models within the news media sector, juxtaposed against the rising dominance of revenue models that are derivative of digital media businesses. The objectives of the capstone were to determine sustainable remuneration models that can be explored by Africa Uncensored Limited(AUC) staff in gig work and build a framework for engagement with individuals doing gig work. Employing a case- study approach, the researcher facilitated an understanding of …

Exploring Strategies Broadcast Media Can Use Togenerate Revenue From Social Media Platforms: A Case Study Of Galaxy Fm In Uganda., Esther Nalubega Wamala

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

Globally, the manner in which people are communicating and interacting has changed mainly due to social media. This change has affectedtraditional media that is print and broadcast because part of the audiences have shifted to Social Media Platforms (SMPs) like Facebook (Meta), Twitter (X), WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and others where they get all the information. This shift has negatively impacted the revenue base of the traditional media because advertisers have also turned to SMPs to advertise their goods and services. The goal of this study, therefore, was to explore strategies broadcast media houses can use to generate revenue from …

Employability Of Graduate Journalists In Modern Media Houses: A Case Study Of Nation Media Group As An Employer., Caroline Wayeta Wafula

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

The study set out to establish the current status of the employability of graduate journalists in modern media houses in Kenya, with Nation Media Group (NMG) as the case study. Specifically, the study sought to identify essential skills that media houses in Kenya currently need from journalism graduates, assess the skills capacity of fresh journalism graduates and determine challenges currently faced by employers in accessing skills needed in modern media houses. The study employed a qualitative research approach, and the researcher conducted in-person interviews with respondents. The study established that the skilling demands on the journalism profession are changing because …

An Analysis Of Ethical Practices In Production Of Youtube Editorial Content In Rwanda., James Munyaneza

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

Many scholars have investigated the impact of digital technologies on journalism ethics, citing falling ethical standards and urging the protection of the basic tenets of journalism. YouTube has emerged as a major conduit of information, thereby helping democratise content. But scholars like Ward have wondered if the old journalistic ideals of objectivity and editorial independence apply to citizen journalists as much. Indeed, Hulin attempted to draw a line between journalists and other online content producers, noting that journalists retain a major responsibility in the promotion of democracy. Democracy, he argues, still needs professional journalists. As such, media outlets need to …

U.S. Online Romance Scams: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Factors Associated With Victimization And Exploration Of Lived Experiences Of Victimization, Rebecca A. Cole

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

The objective of this dissertation is to understand develop an understanding of experiences of online romance scam¹(ORS) victimization and to examine factors associated with ORS victimization. The dissertation samples ORS victims and uses purposive sampling strategies to recruit participants. The research used a mixed methods explanatory design approach. Inclusion criteria included ORS victims 18 and older who lived in the U.S., lost any amount of money in ORS scam, and met the scammer on any Internet platform. Three research manuscripts complete this dissertation. The first manuscript is a scoping review to understand the mental and physical health outcomes …

Elevating Inclusion: Understanding The Employee Experience Of Latinx Immigrants In The Technology Industry, Angelica Coronel

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

In a time characterized by an increasingly diverse U.S. labor force, immigrants have emerged as a vital yet often overlooked segment. As the workforce landscape evolves and employers seek to expand their Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) initiatives, understanding the unique challenges and perspectives of immigrant employees becomes crucial for fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. The existing literature reveals a significant gap on workplace experiences of immigrant employees, particularly Latinx immigrants employed in the technology industry. Grounded in social identity theory, systems theory, and equity theory, this study adopts a phenomenological approach to understand how Latinx immigrant employees …

The Parentification Of Eldest Daughters, Isabella Loraina Ciarico

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of eldest daughters and to research if parentification in childhood impacts eldest daughter identities. The goal was to dive deeper into what it means to be the eldest daughter and how being the eldest daughter aligns with parentification. Two research questions guided this study: (a) what is the experience of the eldest daughter, and (b) How does parentification in childhood impact eldest daughter identities? Findings showed the experiences of eldest daughters with parentification.

Words, Words, Words: Participants Do Not Read Consent Forms In Communication Research, Daria Parfenova, Alina Niftulaeva, Caleb T. Carr

Faculty Publications - Communications

Informed consent is an essential part of conducting human subjects research; but its utility is dependent on participants actually reading the consent forms provided. This research conducted secondary analysis of data (N = 1,283) to assess how long participants spent on the consent forms. Participants spent an average of 35.4 seconds on consent documents: not a nonsignficant amount of time (i.e., different from 0 seconds), but insufficient to read or even skim consent forms. Women spent slightly less time on consent forms. Neither the length nor readability of a consent form predicted time spent reading, and neither readability nor gender …

Tempus Fugit: Unraveling Temporal Occurrence And Display Order Effects Of Online Information On Employer Impressions, Alina Niftulaeva, Omolola Lasisi, Millicent Elewosi, Matthew Edor, Caleb T. Carr

Faculty Publications - Communications

As social media readily enables users to traverse a targets’ posted content across time, the present research explores the effects of two types of temporality – occurrence and display order – on offline perceptions. Using the context of employers’ impression formation of job applicants, N = 200 human resource personnel were exposed to a job posting and an applicant’s resume and supplemental social media posts in a fully crossed 2 (occurrence order: posts becoming either more or less positive over a 4-year period) and display order (most-recent posts presented either first or last), and a one-condition offset in which all …

Taking Flight Or Taking A Pass? Exploring Factors Influencing Consumer Willingness To Pay For Evtol Travel, David C. Ison

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry is experiencing significant growth due to technological advancements and increasing demand for efficient travel experiences. The market is expected to reach $45 billion by 2030, with major players like Joby, Archer, Beta, and Wisk dominating. This study aimed to assess public willingness to pay for AAM services using eVTOLs, using Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform. The survey yielded a response rate of 85.8%, with 1,622 completed surveys. The study found that younger urban consumers were more willing to pay higher prices for AAM electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft trips than older participants, possibly …

Content Moderation On Social Media: Social And Computational Standards And Implications, Mohit Singhal

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Social media has become a powerful tool that reflects human communication's best and worst aspects. They allow individuals to freely express opinions, communicate with others, and learn about new stories. On the other hand, they have become fertile grounds for several forms of abuse, harassment, and the dissemination of misinformation. Social media platforms have established and employed content moderation to counteract the spread of abuse and misinformation.

Some critical challenges hinder the understanding of the social media content moderation ecosystem. This dissertation investigates various aspects of content moderation, including their coverage, fairness, and effectiveness. Firstly, it investigates how, in practice, …

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

Actionable Advocacy Journalism: Embracing Bias And Empowering Audiences With Calls To Action, Megan T. Schiffres

Richard T. Robertson School of Communication Student Scholarship

This thesis outlines the principles of actionable advocacy journalism, a new theoretical framework designed to empower audiences to take action in their communities. This framework proposes an update of journalistic ethics including the elimination of objectivity and demonstrates the positive impact of biased journalism on improving audience trust and strengthening community ties. It explores the historical roots of advocacy in journalism, examines the factors that led to the journalistic philosophy of objectivity, and explains its fundamental flaws. This thesis also outlines strategies for transforming news into a practical resource. These strategies combine the principles of solutions journalism with evidence-based persuasion …

Examining Social Media Utility In Television News Programming: A Case Study Of Urban Tv, Uganda., Vicent Musoke

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study examined social media utility in television news programming using a case study of Urban TV, Uganda. It also provided an understanding of how television stations in the country integrate social media in their news programs by establishing social media utility in Urban Television’s news programs; assessing how Urban TV caters to its broadcast and social media audience in news programs, and exploring how Urban TV’s cross-platform utility caters to its social media audience in news programming. The study is anchored within the technology acceptance Model and uses in-depth interviews with Urban TV staff and direct observation of Urban …

Examining The Role And Implications Of Twitter On News Production In Ugandan Newsrooms: A Case Of Nation Media Group Uganda, Elizabeth Amongin

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Social Media, particularly Twitter, has increased and eased the news production process by enhancing sourcing, gathering, and distributing news content. This study examined the implications of applying or using witter in the news production process in Ugandan newsrooms. This study focused on Nation Media Group -Uganda (NMG-U) and the New Media Theory guided it. The study applied a qualitative study approach and indepth interviews to collect data from 22 journalists and editors who were purposely selected. The study used a case study design to establish the role of Twitter in news sourcing and the attribution of quotes This study found …

18. Framing Of The 2022 World Cup In Qatar By The Western Media., Wanyonyi Mildred

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Qatar became the first Arab and Muslim nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. This study aims to analyse Western Media’s framing of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The study relies on framing theory, an extension of the agenda-setting theory that argues that the media is the key institution for framing and significantly shaping our perspectives on current events and issues. This study adopted a descriptive research framework and focused on news articles published by Western Media, including CNN, BBC, and The Guardian, spanning 48 days. The study adopts a quantitative methodology for data collection, with …

Digital Media And Democratization: The Role Of X In Promoting Participatory Democracy In Rwanda., Christophe Hitayezu

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of digital media's impact on democracy, this study explored the nuanced relationship between X and participatory democracy in Rwanda. Anchored on the Theory of Public Sphere and New Media Theory, this research shed light on the multifaceted interactions between citizens and politicians on X in Rwanda. By quantifying the interactions between politicians and citizens, finding out whether accountability mechanisms exist on the platform, and citizen-driven concerns; the study aimed to offer a comprehensive understanding of X's role in promoting participatory democracy in Rwanda. Situated within the Rwandan political context, this study gains significance as it navigates …

Journalists Understanding And Coverage Of Extrajudicial Killings In Kenya., Susan Kendi Gitonga

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study investigated the phenomenon of extrajudicial killings in Kenya by examining the journalists' understanding of the issue, the media framing of the articles, and the sourcing of the information. The news media, in its traditional role to inform and interpret, has the responsibility to provide the public with a balanced narrative on the issues that are of public interest, including deaths and killings of citizens. However, in the context of extrajudicial killings, the media’s role and significance have been tested due to the dilemma encountered. Journalists face challenges in their attempt to source for authoritative sources, especially in cases …

An Investigation Into The Female Correspondents' Experiences In The Media Industry In Kenya, Pili Chizi Chimerah

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Correspondents in the media organizations in Kenya face myriad challenges to remuneration, working conditions, and job security. These challenges have a direct effect on their performance at the workplace. Correspondents play a pivotal role in the success of media organizations, and research shows that they contribute about 80 percent of media content (Devex, 2022). Odhiambo (2002) states that correspondents are paid on retainers and sometimes need reasonable contracts, making them vulnerable. However, female correspondents face double challenges based on their gender. There is a gender bias in newsrooms, with male correspondents dominating (Selva & Andi, 2020). Often, female correspondents are …

Understanding The Effects Of Twitter Crisis Events On Brand Reputation: The Case Of Strathmore University And Kfc Kenya., Wambui Gachari

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

An organisational crisis event on Twitter goes viral within a short period of time. Within that time, sentiments – either negative or positive – are produced through the tweets published as a result of conversations driven by Twitter users. Coverage done by legacy media further amplify the magnitude of organizational crisis events. These sentiments produces by Twitter users become instrumental in shaping the public perception of organisations. This study sought to determine how Twitter users frame crisis events and the subsequent influence on brand reputation of organisations under crisis. The Framing theory and Situational Crisis Communications theory offered insights into …

An Analysis Of The Use Of Whatsapp In The News-Making Process: A Case Of Bbc Africa., Maureen Nasimiyu Nyukuri

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

This study analyses the use of WhatsApp in the newsroom at BBC Africa, with a particular focus on the experiences of journalists, critical success factors and challenges journalists face when using the app. This study was guided by three objectives: To examine the experience of journalists in the use of WhatsApp in the BBC Africa newsroom, to assess the critical factors in the adoption and use of WhatsApp in the BBC Africa newsroom and to explore the challenges that Journalists face when using WhatsApp in the BBC Africa newsroom. It was anchored on the technology acceptance theory (Davis, 1989) and …

An Investigation On Gender Perceptions In Credibility Of Male And Female News Anchors In Kenya., Ngumbau Maluti Musau

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The success and survival of media houses is based on viewership as informed on audience loyalty that is pegged on perceived credibility of the news items, news anchors and media houses. But, extent of credibility perception as influenced by gender under the gender disparity concept has not been assessed within the Kenyan media space; which forms the focus of this study. The main objective was to investigate gender perceptions in the credibility of male and female news anchors in Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the perceived credibility of male news anchors in presenting hard news items in Kenya and examined …

An Analysis Of The Contribution Of Training Grants To The Ugandan Media: A Case Study Of The New Vision And Daily Monitor., Julius Odeke

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The training of journalists has become an important element in enhancing the development of the media due to the popular global conjecture that a developed media consequently helps citizens to make informed decisions. But a number of factors like the choice of areas for training that needs funding and challenges media experiences in enhancing media development have over the time stifled the operations of the Ugandan media limiting its ability to advance issues of public interest (McChesney, 2008:37;Nyarko, 2015).This study therefore sought to identify areas covered by the training grants in the past five years (2019-2023), analyse the contribution of …

Media Coverage Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Of New Vision And Daily Monitor In Uganda., Eve Atukunda

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The media performs a significant role in shaping and transforming public perceptions during pandemics. This study analysed the media coverage of COVID-19 in Uganda, focusing on its impact on public awareness, government response, and societal behaviour. The study applied a quantitative approach to content analysis of news articles and official government communication, with interviews of journalists at the helm of COVID-19 reporting. The analysis assessed the framing of COVID-19 news in print media platforms. It examined the dynamics between media, government, and public health officials, evaluating the effectiveness of information dissemination and management of misinformation. The initial focus of media …

The Relevance Of Journalism Schools In Producing Talent For A Converged Newsroom: A Case Of Uganda, Arthur Oyako

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

While journalism training schools play a crucial role in equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the media industry, the rapid advances in media technology raised concerns about the training needs and skills and whether J-schools were equipping graduates with the requisite skills for the converged newsrooms. The rapid evolution of digital technologies transformed traditional newsrooms into converged newsrooms, where journalists are expected to produce content for multiple platforms, including print, broadcast, and digital media. This shift has created a demand for journalists with diverse skills, including writing, reporting, editing, video production, social media management, and …

Media's Coverage Of Biotechnology And Gmo’S: How Kenyan Broadcast Media Covered The Lifting Of The Ban On Genetically Modified Foods., Zeynab Nyangule Wandati

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been controversial globally, with differing views on the risks and benefits of their use in agriculture, even though the technology is extensively used in medicine. In Africa, the adoption of GMOs has been relatively slow compared to other regions due to a combination of factors, including poor infrastructure, inadequate resources, and public resistance. Studies have shown that the media often portrays GMOs as a threat to human health and the environment, a narrative often pushed by the news sources interviewed, with little emphasis on their potential benefits or the science of it. …