EVALUATING NEGATIVE, POSITIVE AND NEUTRAL REPORTING IN NEWSPAPERS IN KENYA
A CASE STUDY OF DAILY NATION AND THE STANDARD NEWSPAPERS
Abstract
In a recent study investigating the nature of reporting in Kenya, the study explored factors that affect reporting of Parliament and parliamentarians in two most popular Kenyan newspapers, namely the Daily Nation and The Standard. However, the study did not evaluate the negative, positive and neutral reporting in newspapers in Kenya, for which this study was conducted.
Purpose: This study evaluated the negative, positive and neutral reporting in newspapers in Kenya: A case study of daily nation and the standard newspapers.
Theoretical Foundation: The study was guided by the Herman and Chomsky’s ‘Manufacturing Consent – A Propaganda Model’ theory
Methodology Constructivism philosophical paradigm with mixed method approach through triangulation using structured questionnaires, face-to-face interviews and observations.
Results: The results showed most of the newspaper reporting on MPs during the period under study took a negative angle.
Conclusion: The symbiotic relationship between Parliament, the Media, and the Public is expected to endure despite occasional "clashes" between Parliament and the Media, which inevitably affect the Public. These conflicts arise when parliamentary officials perceive negative portrayal by the Media.
Recommendations: A similar study needs to be carried out to investigate the foregoing phenomena in both radio and television stations
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