THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN ENHANCING CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN KAMPALA; A CASE STUDY OF WATOTO CHURCH
BY
NAM UTEBI RUTH
BMC/44105/143/DU
A RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES ANI) SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MASS COMMUNICATION OF KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
JULY, 2017 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian Religion
DECLARATION I Namutebi Ruth declare that this report is my original work and has not been published or submitted for any other award of degree to any university or institutions before.
S1GNATURE:...~~V~ DATE:..1~..P~ 2~c~•~-
NAMUTEB1 RUTH
REG. NO. BMC/44105/143/DU
Page / 0f46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian Religion
APPROVAL I approve that this research report titled the role of the media in enhancing Christian religion in Kampala; a case study of Watoto church submitted to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Kampala International University has been under my supervision and it is ready for submission.
SIGNATURE...~Z~&)~ DATE...k~Z~?.9 ~
NANYONDO JAN
(SUPERVISOR)
Page ii Of 46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian-religion
ABSTRACT
Media and Christianity like many organizations has experienced a rapid growth in spread of the gospel in masses and this has called upon for the reshaping of the structure of the church and application of the modern equipments to help enhance the objective of the Church according to St. Mathew 28:18-19 which says:
“... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ... in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Media has been designed to ensure reliability of communication within the society in order to shape the character and produce Good and God fearing citizens who will participate in Developmental Politics, economy and social activities.
The research work was to evaluate the role of media in enhancing Christianity as religion and to find the strength of media and impact within the society of which journalists play a big role on collection of information to be presented to the masses both print and electronic media.
The study was contacted within Kampala - Capital City of Uganda of which different church leaders and media houses played a great deal in setting agendas through their activities which motivated the researcher to carry research successfully.
iv TABLE_OF_CONTENTS ______
CHAPTER ONE 4
TNTRODUCTION .1. Background of the Study 4
1 .2. Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objective of the Study 6
1.4 Research Questions 6
1 .5 Hypothesis
1.6 Scope of the Study
1 .7 Significance $
1.8 Justification of the Study 8
CHAPTER TWO ~ 10
LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 The Churches Response in a Media Saturated World 1 0
2.3 The Role of Media and Freedom of Worship 11
2.4 The Church as Advocate for Responsible Media 12
2,5 The Future of the Church in Uganda 14
2.6 Effects of Media Selectivity in Describing Disability 15
2.7 Discrimination on Media 15
2.8 Training Methodology 16
2.9 Importance of Journalistic Training 1 6 .&e.p~~~qpon -. -
CHAPTER THREE...... _...... ,...... _..... 17
•. 1 7 3.1 Introductions 17
3.2 1~.esearch Design . •. j ‘j
3.3 Study Area ~ 17 3.4 Saniple Size 18
3.5 Sampling Tecluiiqizes ••..• 18 3.6 Questionnaires 18 3.7 Interaction ivith the Respondemits 18 3.8 Data Processing and Aiialysis 18
CHAPTER FOUR...... ,~...,, 20
~ OF FI1’113l1JOS ••••••••• 20
4.1 Iiitcoduction .. . 20
4.2 l~.o1e ofl’rofhssionals in Is4edia • 20 4.3 The Role ofMedia in Enhancing Religion—Christianity. 21 4.4 Peoples Opinion on the Magnitude in Which Media Acts in Our Society 23
4.5 Islegative E~c1s ofI~4edia ...... • 27
4.6 [lie Future of the Church in tJgaiicla ••...... 28 4.7 1~4et1iod Iteligious Ivieclia Is tising 30
4.8 Methods in ~~hich I~4ost Christians Iviedia use .. 33
CHAPTER 37 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RBCOMMENDA~ONS 37
5.1 Sulillilar)’ •. •••••••• ••_~• 37
5.2 Conclusion • . 37
5.3 R.ecomniendation ~ 38
- - .-.-——.— Page2oT~ -——.--.—.--.... .--— Role ofmedia in enhancing Chuisiian~ religion
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES 42
A Questionnaire 42
B: Proposal Budget 44
C: Work Plan Sheet 4c
-~--~---~~ Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian— religion
CHAPTER ONE
___ ...~ ~ ...~ ..
INTRODUCTION We live in a climate of many religions and denominations. Violence in them and rivalism is common everywhere: in city and suburb, in main streets and quiet lanes, in private conversations and public media. Our society have come to know God, abuse and rape. rising crime rates and diminished trust through media. We acknowledge that the climate of: the psychological words, as well as physical issues, breeds fear and rapidly escalating concerns for personal security. This in turn leads to more hatred and contributes to society’s tightening cycle of violence of which religious media are trying to address.
This dissertation covers the role of media in enhancing Christianity-religion, and how it has shaped people morally within the society. In this chapter we have majored on the background of the study, statement to the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance, justification of the study, and the scope of the study.
ii. Background of the Study
Every rcligion has a target audience and there is a magnitude in which media has affected them either negative or positive. Hence their was a necessity that research should be carried in order to understand and improve and help the Christianity-religion and journalist who look for information which can shape the morals of people in the society and reinforce some cultures in relation to its target audience. In this dissertation we have given definition of Christianity, religion and culture as follows:
christianity is one ofthe world’s major religions, one which developed out ofJudaism in the first ceniwy CE (‘Common Era ofJudaism and Christianity, the basisjbr the modern Western calendar,).
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary (1990) it defines religion as “Human recognition ofsuperhuman controlling power and especially oja personal God entitled to obedience” While Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM) Defines
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Religion as “an organized system ofbeliefthat generally seeks to understand purpose. meaning, goals, and methods ofspiritual things. These sj~iritual things can be God people in relation to God~ salvation, after ljf~, purpose ofljf~, order ofthe cosmos, etc.”
Gliristian religion is a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
Although there is no standard definition of culture, most alternatives incorporate the Boasian Postulates as the working version by referring Culture as “The system ofshared helieji. values, customs, behaviors, and art~facts that the members ofsociety use to cope wjth their world and with one another, and that are transmittedfrom generation to generation through learning” (p7).
In this research we have looked at the news passed through communication, also we have seen what news the journalist talk about and the news Christians proclaim, both the Iwo points us to questions journalist ask themselves; “what makes news, news?” Both news are aimed at informing the society. On this research have looked on ways media has done and also how it has failed and looks for ways in which it can better its activities in the media. Journalist says that News is anything unusual while the Christian—religion refers News as ihe word of God which brings transformation of the soul, spirit and the mind.
According to this research, not every news makes news. When Christians listens or reads things which are against God in the media, they feel bad and feel something should be done in the society. But most media houses feel that if they don’t report negative issues then their business will not boom.
1.2. Statement of the Prob~em
Problems most often associated with the media both print and electronic, such as gratuitous sex and violence, insufficient or inappropriate programming for children, a flood of sameness in entertainment programming, superficial news coverage of politics. inadequate attention to religion and its influence in society, and the trivialization of news Role ofmedia in enhancing christian— religion
and inibrmation require media—literate persons committed to making their religious perspective relevant to these complex issues.
Also the issue of massage delivery in media has real develop a great challenge due to the poor performance in secular media who do not realize their mission and their objectives in terms of service provision. The campaign in media programs has poor managerial and unqualified personnel who cannot do public relationship properly between the media and their target audience. This researched has helped us look on how media has handled issues in Christian—religion.
1 ~3 Object~ve of the Study
General objective ~ To find out the role of media in e~ancing Clwistian-religion in Kampala Uganda’s capital city. Specific objective
‘~ To find out the magnitude in which media has performed in our society C) To find out what media portrays in relation to the ethics of the church
C) To establish various methods in which media has succeeded in broadcasting
(dissemination of infonnation) its programs to its audience/publics.
1.4 Research Questions
In this research the following were questions the researcher was using: 0 What is the role of media in promoting religion? C) What are the methods religious media is implementing in order to achieve its roles in the society when morals are decaying? C) Do we have changes in religion since technology is advancing in media and what are the impacts to the society?
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t3 Hypothe&s
Christianity is no longer the Christ like religion unless it takes a Godly perspective this is specifically seen by the way media covers different Church leaders participating in corruption. prosperity gospel and sexual activities such us sodomy, homosexuality. lesbianism, which is prohibited by Christian ethics in the holy bible. All these proofs
fulfillment of scripture in 2nidl Timothy3:l -7 and Mathew24:4-6 which says: in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthank/lil, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebrealcers, frilse accusers, incontinent, fIerce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers ofpleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form ofgodliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away, For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to caine to the knowledge
of the truth. “ Many people to day they keep learning in the church but they don’t come to the expectations of God including the teachers of the word of God. The argument has been “many have been called but less have been chosen” when mazes come up.
Further more the bible says “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
1.6 Scope of the StUdy
The study has been carried within churches in Kampala while in media both secular and Christian, attention has been on both print and electronic. The scope of study is based within different media and its publics (the listeners) in which the research gathered both internal and external information within the case study. Internal information is from the church and media administration. Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion
1.7 Significance
The role of media in enhancing religion (Christianity) is needed in the church and in the society to help: ~ Educate Ibmilies about the way media work and how they as individuals and groups can become both responsible consumers and users of media. ~ Provide information about public interest groups that have organized to combat
various abuses by the media —— from the use of excessive violence in programming to
misleading advertising in children~s programming -— so that those who wish may join in these advocacy activities at the local community national and international level. ~ Provide commentary from the pulpit on the impact of media on the quality of life and values of individuals and society and suggest ways congregations and individuals can both work with the positive forces and resist the negative. 0 Recognize and understand the role of media in using metaphor and symbol to shape our understanding of who we are, individually and relationafly; ~ Learn how interactive communication can shape and influence the emerging social fabric of human life and society;
(‘~ Demonstrate responsible use of technology; and Use media as tools by which the church shares the good news. 0 Promoting Christian-religion, which will help professional persons yield to higher productivity adhered to by media houses they will be able to qualify and minimize the cost of unprofessional in their organizations. 0 Benefits the policy markers, specifically the managerial staff and owners of media house to know that religion holds and shapes a very big part of the society hence improves on morality.
1.8 Justificat~on of the Study
Ifs believable that if you want to please all you will please non as far as broadcasting and communication in public is concern. Despite the fact that Christian media wants to fulfill the great commission according to Mathew 28:1 8-20 which says “Therefore go and make
Page 8 of 46 ._Lc!s(me&~i.~~ enhan&gCJwstsan-refigso~n disciples ofall nations~, baptizing them In the name ofthefather and ofthe son and ofthe holy spirit and teaching them to obey eve,ything I have commandedyou...” in Matthew
22:14 it says “For many are called, but few are chosen. ‘~ Despite the fact that media is reaching many but information lands on few.
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction
Basically in this chapter we shall look at what other scholars have recorded on Christian-. religion in relation to the role of media in enhancing it. This information has been got from printed materials (text books, magazine news papers, etc), electronics use of internet which have covers areas such as: The Churches’ in a Media Saturated World, The role of media and freedom of worship, The Church As Advocate For Responsible Media, The future of the church in Uganda, Effects of Media Selectivity in Describing Disability, Discrimination on Media, Training Methodology and Importance of journalistic Training.
2.2 The Churche& Response in a Media Saturated World
In this chapter we looked at Today’s technology in media-savvy storytellers’ techniques has improved the impact of images and amplified their presence through broadcast, cable. satellite. VCRs, video games, fiber optics, interactive television and CD-ROM, that the traditional face-to-face storytellers and media as a gift of God where — parents, pastors. and teachers -— frequently feel replaced and powerless.
According to Thomson K. Patrick (1998) he said that, Media was invented, using the gifts of God’s creation. We spend more of our discretionary time with it than with anything else. They are woven so thoroughly into the economic fabric that they are indispensable for marketing goods, services and ideas. Hence we are all part of creating the problems we seek to correct. We can also be part of the solution.
According to National Council of Churches they emphasized that we must become media lireraie. If we are to make and influence choices that better represent the values for which the Gospel stands, then we must greatly expand our understanding and utilization of media. We must become media literate. 1?ole ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion
The writings of all the world religions call on us to make peace hence media. In the Christian faith we have Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” The holy book of Islam, the Koran. says. “If they incline to peace, make peace with them”. Mahatma Ohandi. a 1-Jindu, put ii like this: “Every human being can be made to change his or her violent behavior into a peaceful one, by virtue of human nature itself which possesses an inherent partiality for peace.”
2.3 The Role of Media and Freedom of Worship in this part we have looked at Uganda Constitution of 1995 which guarantees freedom of worship and what other writers have researched for confirmation or disapproval. Uganda Constitution of 1995 says ‘freedom to practice any religion and manifest such proc/ice which shall include the right to belong to and participate in the practices of any religious body or organization in a manner consistent with this Constitution,’” In this research we affirm communication as both message and process of freedom , When we speak of communication, we speak of that which takes place between persons, in family and community, as well as the more formal communication structures the society has built and continues to embellish. We speak also of messages that overt and covert the intended and unintentional impact or results of such messages having been “heard’ and internalized.
Negative and positive freedom. The basic assumption of conventional human rights thinking regarding the freedom of information is that freedom of expression as such is given and that there should only be protection against the danger of interference by the government. This assumption glosses over the fact that in the reality of unequal societies this freedom does not exist for everyone. In almost every society individuals and peoples ~ silenced. Therefore, the right to freedom of expression would have to rather focus upon the provision of access to the public expression of opinions than on the prevention of restricting opinions.
Moreover, conventionally, the concept of freedom is constructed in a negative sense only. The classical right to freedom of expression is a good illustration. It provides a freedom
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from interference of the state not with the expression of the word of God, ideas, and information. Complete freedom, however, also encompasses the freedom of worship, emancipation and self-development. It implies a process of human emancipation.
Conventional human rights conceptions do not provide this positive extension of the basic norm of freedom. The ‘freedom to’ (positive freedom) points to a process of empowerment through the word of God which people liberate themselves from all those forces that hinder them in taking decisions concerning their own lives. This interpretation of freedom implies a process of emancipation that should be guided by the basic norm of the sovereignty of God and Individual
The liberal right to freedom of expression does not imply that everyone acquires equal access to the means of expression. An important element too is that the freedom of information in the liberal tradition is not directly linked with the principle of equality, As a result it offers insufficient support to the “information-poor” who claim that their freedom of information can only be realized in case adequate means of expression are available. The liberal interpretation does not favor the use of preferential measures (Positive discrimination’) in situations of social inequality.
The tension between Christian groups and the media in Uganda ultimately is a good thing that can serve the interest of democratic life. As Alexis de Tocqueville discovered in the
183 Os ... Christianity can foster the “habits of the heart” that ward off the antisocial acids of radical individualism. And, as JoIm Dewey argued a century later, the media offer some of our best hopes for maintaining a public life in the face of the religious tribalism that can erode democracy from within. Mainstream media and Christianity will always be at odds in a democracy. That is exactly the way it should be for the good of each one.
2~4 The Church as Advocate for Respons~b~e Media
We shall put our focus on the National council of the Chw’ches of Christ in the USA in relation with what is happening here in UGANDA. It’s recorded that Media have a tremendous potential for good, often underutilized. They add exciting new symbols to our culture. They provide chances for people to witness events as they happen. They have
Page 12of46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian— religion great democratic potential and can extend knowledge to all people, providing a global perspective. They provide diversion as well as entertainment, information and education, Media today reach virtually every member of society with messages that reinforce a woriclview that says technology can solve all problems. These media have been so woven into the economic fabric of our culture that to question the underlying implications of the s~istern appears destructive, perhaps, for Americans, even unpatriotic. In this environment, the churches can be a voice for greater responsibility in the use of technology to solve our world’s problems.
During the past five decades, economic criteria increasingly have come to dominate decisions about the messages and means of communication, until today nearly every element of what was once thought of as “public discourse” has been conmiercia]izcd. At the same time, most of what is seen on television, in books, newspapers, magazines and movies is controlled by a handful of media conglomerates in Uganda. Local owners of’ media outlets find it expensive to rely on locally produced material. Much of the syndicated material for television, radio and newspapers is distressingly similar. Neither as citizens nor as Christians can we continue to support strictly market-structured media, which reinforce a limited worldview and provide enormous profit to a privileged few, Instead, we must advocate for open media channels with a genuine free flow of communication to enhance and broaden public discourse.
The National Council of the churches of Christ in the USA believes that communication problems are systemic. Thus, communication advocacy must deal with the media as an enormous power base — social, economic and political — both as a producer and definer of culture. As advocates for change, we must recognize our complicity as ordinary citizens and church—goers, media consumers without whom the problems being addressed would not exist. Without a demand for particular media products. neither good nor bad will flourish.
Religious Communication must deal with the media...both as a producer and de/inei’ of culture, Schramm Wilbur (1973,). Within media, authority and responsibility rest with many participants: actors, writers, directors, publishers, technicians, producers, Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion
executives, station managers, sponsors and viewers. But no one individual feels responsible or can be held responsible for the cumulative effects of media because so many participate in the creative process. Therefore, religious structures must be created which provide a framework in which individuals can act responsibly while simultaneously working in a highly competitive media zones.
Religious Communication must deal with the power realities of the system while recognizing that many individuals within that system already are deeply concerned about the problems being addressed in the media. There are persons throughout the industry who are as much a part of the solution as part of the problem; they need our encouragement and constructive criticism. Religious Communication is therefore both important and difficult.
2~5 The Future of the Church ~n Uganda
What is presented in Media refills that perhaps three quarters of Christians will live in hypocrisy because of information shown in media. Research into the relationship between physjcal attractiveness and crime in the various media found that physical ugliness and physical differences are often associated with media depictions of violence and crime ~iVeedham & Weiner, 1974~. Horror movies make free use of this strategy. Gardner & Radel (1978), who analyzed newspapers and television for references to disabled people, found that about one half of the items portrayed the disabled as dependent persons. A tenth of the items portrayed the disabled as being in some way deviant: “strange, antisocial or bizarre.” Only about one quarter of the items portrayed the disabled as persons capable of independent living and of contributing to society. Cartoons and comic strip captions are also important carriers of prejudicial and discriminatory language and images of evil cripples. Words such as “stupid moron,” “idiot,” “crazy,” are common jargon in strips such as Beetle Bailey, and the various “animal comic strips. Everyday words which refer to specific conditions have become standardized as curse words, and stereotypes of conditions are reinforced (W~inberg & Santana, 1978,). This shows that a big percentage watches and are going to be swept because these are not ethical to Christians hence this research shows us that more people will get their eyes fixed on TV
Page 14 of46 Role ojmedia in enhancing Christian— religion and their ears fixed on radio, hence there is high probability of Christians being swept a way by many programs.
2~6 Effects of Media Selectivity in Describing Disability
The mass media perpetuate stereotypes of disability through their portrayals of characters. But there is no evidence that the mass media have any major effect on manipulating the attitudes and opinions of its audience. Researchers state thai. it is difficult to discover what are the precise effects of the media on public opinion. It is possible that attitudes and opinions change dramatically as a result of what is seen or heard. There are indications of selective perception of what is viewed, namely that audiences tend to identify with that which reinforces their existing beliefs. On the whole it appears that ‘‘the potential of the mass media to create false impressions... is tempered by a tendency of the public to neglect the mass media in favor of other sources of understanding social reality” ([-lowilt, 1989, p. 1 79,). Some speculation is in order. however, on the effect of negative stereotyping on the disabled themselves, especially children with disabilities. ‘‘SelJidentfly is formed by what is communicated through the ijiedia as well as by interpersonal acts” (Gumpert & Cathcart, 1982, p. 13). To see oneself labeled and cast always in the role of the villain, helpless dependent or victim is not an enviable fate. In this information we have related what we found out with what other researchers have written on the role of media in enhancing Christianity as a religion.
2.7 Discrimination on Media
According to General assembly of United Nations 7111 Nov 1967. It ensures equal rights to acquire, administer, enjoy dispose of and inherit property including property acquired during marriage and equality of rights.., and at its dissolution. Just what Apostle Paul addressed to the church to Galatians “I’here is neither Jew nor flee, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male norfemale; for ye are all one in Christ .Jesus. “ (Galatians: 3 :~8) But media has discriminated some groups of people in the society for example children, women, and black Africans among others. Media should know that all people are equal and should be given respect where due.
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2.8 Training Methodology
L. Al Prasad (200Q) pointed out that training programs such as marketing ,advertising offer listeners information and educative information its believed by most religious media houses that Gods word was broadcasted and word (seed) into different hearts (audience) The word broadcasted according to Jesus Teaching they believe the seed fail into different directions just like what is broadcasted in the media. Hence believed that the seed broadcasted is the word of God (Luke 8:1-14), which falls in different direction. We can say that media disseminates NEWS to all direction According to Deogratias l3yabafumu in his book News Paper and Editing, Design and production he said that their events that determines news one of them is unusual event while in the church usual events and repeatedly makes news not history for example 2000 years people used to tell about Christ up to now Jesus makes news, but to a journalist it may not. Hence a writer must know what makes news newsy through training.
2.9 Importance of Journalistic Training
Training plays many important roles it increases organizational viability and flexibility. morale and other things which we have put more attention in the field, Which Krishua Rung Charry (‘1998~ recorded that true training and development in religion are essential requirements which can be acquired; hence it should be noted that training is a learning process. So their is a need that every individual trained must match with the training or job he /she is doing.
Apprenticeship. This is a study in which new trainers/jourflaljstJpresentej.s/~~e put under supervision of a person who is experienced in the field. Apprenticeship training has been popular in medieval times when those intended to learn some craft or professionals used to work under expert. In to day’s context many organizations take new trainers under apprenticeship act. Various media houses do offer this services especial ly journalist who have just finished training. Role ofmedia in enhancing christian— religion
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY 3~i lntroduction This chapter explains specific methods in which study has been carried out. It gives us the analysis of the research design, study area, survey population which the researcher has used, This chapter further highlights methods that were used to enlist relevant data finally, the chapter points out how the enlisted data have been analyzed and processed.
3~2 Research Design
The method used in this research is in line with the case study which focuses specifically
on Christian-religion within Kampala — Kampala Pentecostal Church and churches within It explains and establishes the essence in which media has enhanced Christianity towards nThral performance in society of which Kampala Pentecostal Church is our case study
3~3 Study Area
‘l’he area of study was carried at Kampala Pentecostal Church; and other Christian’s churches within Kampala also was looked unto because of extra time the researcher had hence Kansanga miracle centre, Gaba Community church, United Faith Chapel. Rubaka Miracle centre, among others Participated in the research by filling the questioner and most leaders were interviewed on how media has affected the way of worship in their churches.
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3;4 Sample Size
Thc sample was collected from fifty (50) respondents selected from the church of which 1 0 were pastors, 14 were leaders, 13 believers and 12 non-believers and this were from the four corners where the case study took place. This was able to give relevant data on the role of media in enhancing religion (Christianity).
3~5 Sam pNng Techniques
The need for sample selection was of paramount importance in these research it helped to avoid repetitions of selected samples, also due to time limits I selected the sample from the study population using stratified sampling, simple/convenient random sampling techniques. This enabled researcher to enlist data from all areas of his field study,
3~6 Questionnaires
A number of cluestionnaires both open and closed were sent to the selected respondents from the study population. This is because it was difficult for respondents to avail the researcher time for interviews; hence it will be of great value to acquire opinions on the role of media in enhancing religion (Christianity).at personal level.
3~7 Interaction with the Respondents
Interviews were taken within different media houses and churches in which I booked appointments with managerial staff and try as much as possible to know why they did establish their media houses and what are their main and minor objectives of which latter will help them improve on their relationship with their publics.
3~8 Data Processing and Analysis
Data was subjected to qualitative analysis, questionnaires and other methods used which has been revisited and edited after collection from individual - respondents. Responses
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Role ofmedia in enhancing christian— religion
gbt from interviews were broadened and given their meanings through exhaustive explanation as soon as the exercise got completed which helped researcher not to forget. Role ofmedici in enhancing Christian— religion
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS 4f Introduction
The study was carried out to find out the role of media in enhancing Christianity as a religion the study focused on churches within Kampala of which Kampala Pentecostal, United Faith Chapel at Kampala International University, Gaba Community Church, Kansanga Miracle center and Rubaka miracle center were approached and other media houses include Top Radio, Radio Katwe, East Africa TV audience, Monitor News paper. UT3C TV Audience, among many within the region.
A,2 Role of Professionals in Media
Linkages between Educated workers in media houses were seemingly more produedve, although information flows were also apparently limited from agencies because of finances. Media do not always appear productive because of low educated and un professional people working in media houses, due to this perceptions that the church were not coming with good information because theologians are used who doesn’t know communication skills in media, and perceptions amongst the media community reporting is of low quality and often inaccurate because sometimes the church would want to hide some information to avoid testimony destruction yet its against journalistic ethics.
One of the key reasons found amongst Authorities in media houses for not providing information was poor professionalism amongst the media and their assumed inability to accurately and responsibly convey news, as well as the continuing institutional culture amongst churches of avoiding putting information in the Public domain that will help shape morals of the public.
It was assessed that the churches in Uganda-Kampala are not ready to be on media because of compromising issues like sodomy and corruption among some pastors. but Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion
according to the findings be it false teaching churches or the real born again they arc not ready to exchange with the media hence failing to fulfill scriptures which says,
“Ye are the salt 0! the earth: but ~f the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be sal/ed? It is thence/brth goodJbr nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of nien. Ye are the light f the world A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Both c/a men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and ii giveth light
unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see roar
good works, and glori/j your Father which is in heaven. “ ~Mathew 5:13-16,)
In areas where there is poor access to professional media, assistance to be provided to facilitate existing local independent professional media to extend their coverage to incorporate these areas, or where this is not possible, to establish independent outlets in these areas (in this regard consideration should be given to community radio and TV, utilizing existing broadcast legislation on community Broadcasters). Promote diversity and plurality in those existing local professional media accessible in isolated areas.
4,3 The Role of Media in Enhancing ReNgion~Christianity,
Media has radically transformed various aspects such as the advent of, mass-Christianity and most recently the electronic mass-media. For many of the worlds geographically dispersed peoples, as well as for those living in particularly media-intense environments like Kampala City, families of most Christians are now often sustained via mass-media channels: television, radio, CDs, film, and the Internet.
With the help of communication technology it has been found out that the message of peace can be brought to all four corners of the earth, without any restrictions of time and space. Its rather unfortunate that media has not been as forthcoming as ii should in this regard. However the time is now to use media as means of productive change rather then violence. in the process, they have also helped to keep the public and church leaders honest according to the interview I carried with church leaders within Kampala, pointing out
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respective foibles and pretensions. Christian media have offered the public as well as religious tribes some of the best media criticism produced by mainstream media themselves, Meanwhile, mainstream media have rightly taken particular churches to task for misdeeds as well as offered some surprisingly good depictions of religious life.
It is a recognized fact that the media play an important role in the formation of identity personal, religious, national. Religious fundamentalists have from time immemorial, assiduously used the media to proclaim the truth, mobilize the masses, protect the faithful and lay down the gauntlet to non-believers. Christian fundamentalists are renowned for their pragmatic use of the media. Broadcasting has traditionally been their forte and they have individualized the encounter between products, technologies and personal salvation, ‘i’hev are motivated by their belief that every successive technology is a manifestation of God’s design to he used by fellow Christians to fulfill the promise of the Great Commission.
Broadcasting and web-based information strategies are used to conduct aggressive campaigns against non-believers. These communication campaigns support on the ground activities that include church planting, conversion, and development. The use of broadcasting (radio and television) and the Internet are core features of many of these organizations and networks,
Christian fundamentalists use a variety of media to fulfill their mission. However, broadcasting — both radio and television remain their favorite tools. There are a number of defining characteristics of the media and Christian fundamentalism, These can be categorized in terms of structure, process, audience, policy, strategy, ideology
While they have a massive presence in print, their core media is undoubtedly broadcasting. and of late, the Internet. Since one of the key raisons of Christian fundamentalism is the Great Commission the media have traditionally been used to further the goals of outreach including church planting. preaching, conversion and global evangelism. Print, broadcasting and new information technologies have been used extensively. Today, when we speak of Christian broadcasting, it refers almost exclusively
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to the networks owned by televangelists, most of who are resident of Uganda but managed in the USA. However, their networks are local
While the most ubiquitous expression of Christian fundamentalist media is represented by globally networked Christian television such as CBN and TBN, there are also local expressions of Christian fundamentalist media that are bounded by language, region, and nation. Local Christian TV supported wholly by local entrepreneurs also plays a role in reinforcing a conservative politics and interpretation of Scripture at local, regional or national levels,
While the political economy of televangelism is of real concern, the deliberate manner in which content is used to marginalize ‘others’, the ways in which Christian symbols are manipulated for marketing ends, the ways in which technologies are adapted to fundamentalist ends and communication campaigns used to sow distrust and discord in multi-religious contexts are some of the more immediate concerns for ecumenical edmmunicaiion organizations.
4~4 Peoples Opinion on the Magnitude in Which Media Acts in Our Society
Below are the key reasons and mind of different people interviewed within Kampala in the role of the media in enhancing Christianity religion and other sectors of the government found amongst Authorities/listeners of different media houses and believers of different churches within Kampala.
According to Rebecca Nandoka listerner of UBC TV she said “Media is considered to be the 4th pillar of the society. The other three being legislative, executive and judiciary. It definitely plays an important role in the welfare of the society.”
Jonathan Bukenya reader of Read Paper News paper said “The media plays a very important role as a source of information, education and entertainment.” He further said “it accommodates the world into a single village which is saturated of media-. information,”
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Also Reader of Monitor iVews paper Thomson Warren thought and remarked “MEDIA” is playing crucial role in educating, entertaining & also for providing us with information & news. Your life without ‘MEDIA’ is like a lamp without oil. So you must widen your scenario about the importance of ‘MEDIA” .1 think, if our country is making progress it’s only because of so called “MEDIA”.
Lucy Nakimuli Kawembe Pentecostal “In my opinion media plays a vital role in everyone’s life. It solves their problems. It gives them choices as many new media and channels are coming up”, She further agreed that sometimes it sensationalizes the news items but again I feel that media is something that is must for today. It helps and provides vital information to the people.
Walela Waluhenga of Top Radio remarked that Media has a constructive role to play for the society, Today News Channels and even some Newspapers is mouthpiece of some Christian and political parties. Their work then limits only to spread the ideology of the party rather than giving the correct news. People have to judge on their own by looking different channels for the same news and then form a conclusion.
Wetengula Sharon Kampala Pentecostal Church on his opinion he said “Media plays an important role. It’s a mirror of the society. Its duty is to inform, educate and entertain the people but nowadays we see that media is not doing its duty honestly and he added that Instead of giving important information and educative programme it is giving emphasis fo sensationalize the public.
“I seriously think that media is an integral part of our society but that’s also a fact that its too much intervention in everything is a matter of concern.” Said Miriam Adella Gaha
Coimnunity Church. She further commented that Sometimes, just for making money an insignificant news is given so much priority that the real news is not even brought into the notice. But she agreed “Yes, it does also entertain but again its a debatable issue because by ‘entertainment’ we mean healthy entertainment and not that non sense TV serials.., So at last like science it is a tool which we have to use by our judgment to provide maximum satisfaction side by side without harming ourselves.”
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Watcnyera Nehema, Rubaka Miracle Center In her view, said “media is the watch dog of the political democracy a part from religious point of view. If it plays its role honestly it will he a great force in building the nation but now days due to great commercialization it is not performing its role properly which is not healthy for society”.
“Nowadays we see that media is not doing its duty honestly” said Ruth Daniel of Seventh Day Adventist-Kampala, Instead of giving important information and educative programme it is giving emphasis to sensationalize the public.
Abraham Webale of Kansanga Miracle ~‘enter he cautioned that “The media is so much part of us that to recognize their impact, we must step back and consciously think about how they shape our lives and what they are saying.” He further said “media affects people perspective not only through television, but also through radio and newspaper. In ihis way. even many messages with which we cannot agree, inevitably coming to us from a diverse constellation of media, will not hurt us. They can even be turned to our benefit by whetting our understanding and articulation of what we believe.” Abraham concluded that media plays on peoples fears.
“Media plays an important role in the society”. Said Robert Kibingiri of Kampala International University-United Faith Chapel, he further said that, they help us to know current affairs on the spot. They put our lives in danger during a terrorist attack or a natural disaster, just to inform us about it. Robert emphasized that “It is partly because of them that there is awareness spreading in the society. This is how; many countries are able to contribute to the affected areas.” Kibingiri Questioned “Who are the people who tell us about corruption? Who are the people who tell us about the crimes? It is the media who tells us, It is the media who shape our lives. Without media our lives arc incomplete.” I—Ic answered.”In conclusion media plays a very important role in our lives and in the society,” he said.
“Without the media, it would have never been possible for us to become so much advanced,” said Ronny Sirnamna Radio Katwe. “Though sometimes it becomes too intrusive, but still I think it plays a very important role in our society. It helps us to know about how the poor people are being exploited by the richer ones, how the students are
Page 25 of 46 Role qfmedia in enhancing Christian- religion being abused by the teachers, how the brutal fathers are killing their own baby in its mothers womb as it is a girl. Had the media been not there we would have never been able to know a hit about all these.” commented Ronny.
East Africa TV audience Jackie Good Hope said, “The main important functions of the media are entertaining, educating and informing the society. For the society to cope in this technologically dependent era, they need to be media saturated.”
“It gives us all the news from every part of the country North East West South (NEWSl. It also sometimes entertains the people, educates too. I think everybody should log on this and gain knowledge.” Said Wanteba Moses c’NN News reader.
“It gives us all latest and fresh news to understand in many ways. It prevents corruption. With the help of media we know every news and other things. WELL DONE MEDIA KEEP iT UP~” said Rolex Kapsombe Freelance Journalist.
I think media plays a vital role in our life because if somebody is living in a small town, media is the only tool which provides latest information about the whole world. May be the sources are different, person, TV, radio, Internet. Said Evano Evertro Researcher on Town to Village News reporting
In Conclusion today, media is considered the fourth pillar of the state all over the world. in any country, the governing body has a significant position, then religious leaders have second position, after that general public has third position and media have fourth position. In any republican government system, there must be three administrative bodies. 1- Parliament, 2- Administrative department, 3— Judiciary body. In the absence of any of these three bodies, the government can not run systematically, but now it is felt that one body more is necessary to be with them, that is media, this body is considered more important these days, it plays an important role as an informative bridge between governing bodies and general public, in absence of media general public cannot know about what kind of bills and acts are passed in the parliament, arid what are their positive and negative effects in the society, if media person close their eyes the government officials will do what they want, so media plays a very important and impartial role
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between government activities and general public, so much SO that it is said that the freedom of media is the guarantee of success of republic government.
4~5 Negative Effects of Media
Today television channels and newspapers are making fast money by cashing on the news in wrong sense and wrong way. In the race to become more popular and to make money they have broken all the limits media must follow while serving to build a healthy and progressive society. They have no respect for the sentiments and ethics of the people and land whom they serve to, with their immense power to influence the masses they just make judgment like a true dictator rather than a good advice of a true friend as they previously used to do. If it will be going in the future then we people have to think about the role of media in our life.
The church acknowledges that women, racial/ethnic minorities, lesbian and gay persons, and people with disabilities historically have been excluded from or negatively stereotyped in the media. Consistent with our values as Christians living in a pluralistic society, we must work to insure that media reflect, in a balanced fashion, the views, opinions and cultures of ail segments of society.
According to the research mass media and religious groups in Uganda has regularly argue about news bias, sex and violence on television, movie censorship, advertiser boycotts, broadcast and film content rating systems, government regulation on the media, the role of mass evangelism in a democracy. In Uganda the major disputes between religion and the media usually have involved Christian churches ministries, on the one hand, and so called secular media, on the other.
Uganda Christianity can foster the “habits of the heart” that Causes radical individualism. We have found in media Pastors in corruption who exploits Believers in their Churches with the Gospel of Prosperity and Planting of commercial churches where people go and give money in order to be prayed for of which it’s against the word of God which says “Heal the sic/c cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
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received,freely-give “. (Matthew] O:8)
Problems most often associated with the electronic media, such as gratuitous sex and violence, insufficient or inappropriate programming for children, a flood of sameness in entertainment programming, superficial news coverage of politics, inadequate attention to religion and its influence in society, and the trivialization of news and information require media-literate persons committed to making their religious perspective relevant to these complex issues.
4~6 The Future of the Church in Uganda
The scrapping of a law criminalizing adultery in Uganda dismayed church leaders and is stirring a furious debate in the east African country of which Uganda was the center of the event this brought together Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches in Uganda. Five judges on the Uganda Constitutional Court made their ruling on April 5, 2007 following a petition by the Women Lawyers Association and an advocacy coalition that challenged the law on adultery. The court ruled that the country’s penal code, which criminalized adultery, was inconsistent with the constitution. The law made criminals of women having love affairs with men, whether married or unmarried, but it was not an offense for men to do so. With the scrapping, it now means women in Uganda can legally have sex outside of wedlock.
While some church leaders argue that the law was bad, others view the decriminalizing ol~ adultery as a blow to the institution of marriage and argue it opens the floodgates to “illicit sex.” Hence Christianity may not be safe because pastors also have been reported over adultery so the church may not be safe for some, unless Ihey trust in God for the church is full of wolfs.
On March 1 2~ 2000, Uganda became the site of the worst single incident of cult killings in world history. Over 1,000 followers of the Movement for The Restoration of the Ten Commandments were found dead. Half of them died in a church that was set on fire; the bodies of the rest were found buried in mass graves all over the country on that day. It should be noted that this instance left a negative mark to the body of Christ.
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I-Iomophobjc allegations in the Red Pepper have previously led to police action. In 2002. the tabloid ran banner headlines and photographs about an alleged wedding between two women. Kampala police promptly arrested the women in question Although they were freed when an attorney intervened, they were jailed again and held for several days. allegedly for their own safety, after a mob threatened them. A lJgandan pastor who had counseled them was later forced to leave the country.
The government has also silenced discussion of gay and lesbian rights and lives. The Broadcasting Council, a board of governthent censors, fined a radio station 1.8 million shillings (more than US$1000) for hosting a lesbian and two gay men on a talk show, where they protested against discrimination and called for repeal of the sodomy laws, In
Febniaiy 2005, the Media Council — a state censorship board — banned a staging of the play. “The Vagina Monologues,” by the U.S. author Eve Ensler, because it “promotes illegal acts of unnatural sexual acts, homosexuality and prostitution.”
On September 29, 2005, President Museveni signed into law a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The amendment says that “marriage is lawful only if entered into between a man and a woman,” and specifies that “it is unlawful for same-sex couples to marry.” A parliamentary spokesperson said at the time that criminal penalties for engaging in such marriages would be imposed later.
Sunday Monitor News Paper of 08 July 2007, a pastor was reported participating in sodomy. Pastor Martin Sempa of Makerere Community Church said there were “quacks~
among the “balokole “, including those who are “willing to go to Satan to receive power”. Allegations against some of the church ministers now include sodomy and dubious miracle healing. “I believe people can pray and God heals, but we have manipulated people,” said Pastor Solomon Male of the Arising for Christ Ministries. All this shows us that the church is taking another direction and needs government intervention above all leaders in the church needs to obey God
Page 29 of 46 Role ofmedia in enhancing christian— religion 47 Method ReUgious Media Is Using
Media is a method that fulfils great commission according to Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15”... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...”
Kjcll Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway and President of The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights said “Working in media is always important to have focus on how your work may affect tensions, conflicts and strive for peace.” But all in all both print and electronic Method is very important for dissemination of the Gospel as we shall see on the following findings Basing on the gift of God which he intended man to use in order to fulfill the Great Commission: “Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature’ [Mark 16: 15]. This explains why contemporary Pentecostal Christians embrace broadcasting as a key method for spreading the ‘Good News”.
Print Media: The gospel is also popularly preached through the print media. One popular evangelistic print media is tracts. In addition to this, stickers (placed on cars. doors to houses, offices, handbags, etc.) are also used. Newspaper, a fast growing print media is one of the avenues being exploited by Christian organizations to disseminate the gospel, it is not unusual to find several columns, especially in Sunday newspapers devoted to one kind of Christian message or the other. Apart from this, many Christian organizations have their in—house bulletin and magazines through which various information on their activities and Christian doctrines are documented. There are also several independent (non-Church—based) magazines springing un which are mainly for evangelistic purposes. The use of billboards is also gaining wide acceptance among various Church organizations in Uganda.
The large coverage television and radio give to information makes them to be favored by most Christian organizations. These media can be used to reach several people at a time without having personal contact or face-to-face
In contemporary times in Uganda, the ability of a Christian ministry to preach the gospel through these media is seen as a measure of success for such organizations. This will not
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only afford the ministry the opportunity to preach the gospel but also to create awareness about the ministry’s regular and special activities. The television is of particular advantage to Christian organizations because it is both an audio and visual media, unlike the radio, which is only audio.
Pentecostal and evangelistic organizations are more involved in regular radio and
television preaching than other Christian organizations and the reason is quite obvious —• reaching out for more souls who will join their organizations and then become hopefuls for the Kingdom of God. (Hackett, 2003, Lyons, 1991). Some organizations have regular weekly programs in one electronic media or the other, while some other big Christian ministries have programs in most media organizations in Uganda Since radio and television programs involve a lot of financial commitment, some organizations which cannot generate or commit such huge finances to electronic preaching wait to take advantage of free sponsorship provided by politician and philanthropic citizens during special Christian celebrations like the Easter and Christmas. It is also common for preachers to solicit for financial support from their audience and listeners to sponsor the program.
Electronic: Radio and television preaching has two major ways of recording, and this largely depends on the time slot available for the transmission. The first way is largely an unedited live transmission of religious meetings such as crusades, rallies and church services, This is more common in television preaching. The purpose is to allow a wider audience that live within the areas of coverage of the media organizations to watch the program live. The preacher, who is aware of this arrangement, takes care of the immediate context of the message (of people listening in a large auditorium or an open air venue, as well as the perceived anticipated context (of people watching the program or listening to it in their sitting rooms at home, in their cars while driving, etc.). They alternate between addressing the people physically present with them and those watching or listening to the program.
Radio and television Christian media has a schematic structure that can be generalized to some extent as stated below:
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PROGRAM OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM Musicals For preparing person Psychologically Introduction of preacher/ministry To capture the audience Prayers To prepare and direct you to what God expects of you Message To Educate and nourish spiritually
Call for feedback Responding to the massage
Musicals To Reflect the listener back to the massage End of the program j For thanks and perhaps prayer to the despondence
The Internet: Another electronic medium for Christian discourse, which is yet use widely in Uganda for that purpose, is the Internet. It is however fast gaining use among some big Christian ministries. Such ministries acquire web pages where they highlight their doctrines, beliefs and activities. Very few of them have regular and periodic preaching columns on the web page. The Internet became popular in Uganda in the late early I 990s. The mode is restricted to the educated, particularly, the computer literate people, since the message is written to be viewed and sometimes heard. in addition to this, there arc series of steps to be taken to reach the web pages and this makes it less accessible to people unless they deliberately go out to search for the page.
Other methods: With the advent of charismatic movements in Uganda and their rigorous drive to evangelize, preaching of the gospel, which hitherto had been limited to churches and crusades, was extended to other domains such as inside buses and taxis, in the offices, at school, in the prisons, in the hospitals, and so forth.
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~‘~i3 Methods in Which Most Christians Media Use
The radio and television Christian is largely determined by the location and the target audience. About 70% of the linguistic is English. The others are in the local languages of the setting. Since most of the media are situated in the urban areas Kampala, Mbale, Jinja and Mbarara there is an assumption that majority of the listeners are educated. This assumption, which cuts across most major programs on the radio and television in Uganda, may be wrong, especially if one considers the literacy level of the country. According to total population of Uganda 70% is literate in English.
One major method of the media preachers is to be understood and actually allow the audience/listeners to make commitments, so the message is persuasive. It is not common for preachers on the radio and television to assume that their audience/listeners are familiar with the topic, so the messages are usually rendered in simple language with little or no specialized vocabulary use. The messages are explicit and simple. If at all specialized expressions are used, the preacher takes time to define and explain such expressions.
The language usually has the pragmatic force of persuasion, and sometimes with warning as an underlying tone. For instance, it is common to use such persuasive expression as:
I beg you ~fyou are listening to me today, this word is for you. This is the voice of/he Lord to you.
In addition, they also exhort, admonish and chasten. They teach some basic Christian doctrines through which some challenges are thrown to the listener/audience. Preachers try to be as polite as possible in order not to negate their messages or discourage their target aLidience/listeners. Even when they needs to condemn some practices such as smoking, drinking, prostitution, pools betting, etc., they do it in a polite manner knowing
the purpose of the message — winning souls.
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Electronic media preachers are aware that the appropriateness and effect of speech depends to a great extent on the ability of the speaker to size up the rhetorical situation. So, they set out to with the mind of answering the question “what is at stake?” Taiwo (2005) observes that preachers use different kinds of interrogation in their preaching mainly to ensure attentiveness and these include: w and h- questions, polar questions. rhetorical questions, tag questions, and so forth. However, since electronic media preaching does not have the listener present with the preacher, the questions are more or less rhetorical. Such interrogative forms, which are more persuasive in nature than direct statements are purely meant to set the audience/listener in meditative mood over the message with the aim of converting them. For example:
(~ Will you allow Jesus Christ unto your l~/~
~‘ When you die, where will you go? (~ How can you escape hell andfind yourself in heaven? (~ Can you sit hack for a minute or two and thin/c about your life? Are you pleasing Before God? c~ Will you still continue in your evil ways? O Why do you continue to allow yourseifto be cheated by the enemy?
Interrogation is also used as a hearing-check strategy. (See Olateju. 1998 Pg 35) for example a preacher may say:
0 Are you listening to me? 0 Hello?
These forms are used despite that the preacher does not get any confirmation to them since his listener/audience are imaginary. They may simply be described as a carry-over of the style used in face-face interaction. They may not be out of place in electronic media communication because some of them are recoded messages actually preached by the preacher at a Church service.
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Since the preachers addresses people whose personalities are not sure for he or she uses words such as:
~ Mv listener... ~ My brother and sister or brethrens ~ Mypeople.,.
However, sometimes, when specific people are addressed, preachers may use their profession (lawyer, teacher, policemen, trader, etc.) or descriptive words depicting their action (prostitute, drunkard, liar, etc.) to turn attention to such people most preachers describes as:
~ You teachers aiding and abetting your students in exam maipracrices... C’~ Prostitutes, listen to me, your body is God’s g~fi to you... ~ Swindlers, desist from your act, or...
1~ You policemen extorting moneyform motorists...
Preachers also get the attention of their listener/audience by trying to exhaust the list of possible target listener/audience types. This is usually done to prevent a situation in which some of the listeners/audience will exonerate or justify themselves by feeling the message is not meant for them. For example:
‘~ Listen to me, you may be a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, aflither, a mother, a boss, ci worker, ci rich man, a poor man, whoever you are, this message isjbr you..
Even after listing the possible target audience/listener, the preacher sometimes still uses the indefinite pronoun whoever (as we can see above) the goal is to let the listener/audience know that the message is meant for everyone listening or watching.
The Internet as a medium for disseminating Christian message has a different mode from the radio and the television. Despite its similarity to the television (both transmitted through the screen monitor), the Internet is primarily visual, i.e., specially designed as a
Page 35 of 46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion page or more to be read and digested. The World Wide Web (www) allows people to create home pages “speaking aloud” about themselves or their organizations to millions of people around the whole world spanning different cultures. Like any other form of writing, it is space-bound and carefully organized and structured. The readership is not clearly determinable; however, the designer/writer tries to meet the need of a very wide readership as he presents a clear and unambiguous text.
The Internet discourse in Uganda is conducted in English, since that is the country’s official language. It must be admitted here that the use of the Internet in Uganda is still largely limited to that of a forum for advertising the Church or Christian ministry.
•Page 36 of 46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian~ religion
CHAPTER FWE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5;1 Summary
In conclusion, research has revealed that the role of media in enhancing Christianity has played a bigger role socially, economically and politically, especially on positive side as seen in chapter four. Though media on the other hand has destroyed the saltiness of the church by exposing leaders in the church who people have put trust in them of which has tarnished the religion, but it should be noted that truth is painful but it sets people free. it should be noted that judgement is based on this fact: Gods light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their action were evil all who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.
As far as journalism as a profession is concern as they expose the works of darkness and those of light it should be known that “... there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not he known.” Luke 12:2.
5~2 Condus~on
It should be known that Tiny spark can set a great forest on fire just like media, good can come out of it or worse. It can turn to be of benefit or no benefit a blessing or a curse. As people read and listen different media they should answer the following questions: Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a Pg tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Media houses are like spring of information. information can be fresh or bitter, So far I will say religion the good, can also be, religion the bad; a source of human pain and suffering that history has repeatedly documented it mostly media oriented. This is so because of ancient rituals and rules whose relevance has been swept aside by the march of time and the great discoveries of science and intellectual thought.
Page 37 of 46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion ~,3 Recommendation
I will recommend that we must become media literate. 1-lence the church. the school and the family [must] take their roles more seriously. Also Churches have a responsibility to educate us to, understand media symbols, images and language from a faith perspective, which will help people understand the good news.
All Christian educational agencies should demonstrate their support for development of curricular materials for use in local churches. Media education in schools of theology also is essential since that is where future church leaders are taught to make the Gospel relevant to the people and their culture.
Prepare church leadership and members for informed citizen action in relation to media in their communities. Publicize and facilitate strategies for citizen involvement that could include visits with program directors, station managers, and newspaper editors; writing to program sponsors and the local media; organizing boycotts or taking other actions available to citizens seeking redress.
The media should Work to preserve or secure legal processes that will ensure public accountability by those who control media. Encourage citizens to evaluate, at franchise or license renewal time, whether cable and television outlets in local communities are servicing the community interest, convenience and necessity.
Work. to advance the interests of women, minorities, and people with disabilities to ensure that they are authentically presented in TV imaging so as to avoid the promotion of stereotyping. Further, work to advance the interests of such groups to ensure that they are proportionately represented in the workforce and ownership ranks of industry, and within those media work forces of religious communities.
Encourage concerned parents and public interest advocates to be part of citizen advisory panels and to initiate dialogue with the owners and managers of media outlets in their own communities. This will allow Christians to conduct a ministry of concern and constructive response so that fundamcntal moral values can be preserved, perpetuated and shared with others.
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Continue public recognition and awards for writers, producers, and programmers who meet or exceed public interest standards. Publicize and support excellence whenever the pubhc is served through the media.
Page 39 of46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian- religion BIIBUOGRAPHY l3ird, F. K, Byrd, P. D., & Allen, C. M. (1977). Television programming and disability. Applied Rehabilitation Counselling, 8(1), 28-32. Bogden, Robert, & ]3iklen, Douglas. (1977). Handicapism. Mimeographed paper. Social Policy Corporation, New York. CRTC. (1986). Sex role stereotyping in the broadcast media (Report on Industry Self- Regulation). Ottawa: Supply and Services Canada. Dahi, Marilyn. (198’7). The cultural production of the disabled role identity in contemporary Canadian society. MA thesis, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. Fiedler, Leslie. (1978). Freaks, myths and images ofthe secret self New York: Simon & Shuster. Gardner, J. M., & Radel, M. (1978). Portrait of the disabled in the media. Journal of Community Psychology, 6, 269-274. Graham, R, (1987, January). On the road. Saturday Night, 102(1), 16ff. Gumpert, Gary, & Cathcart; Robert. (1982). Inter/media. Inleipersonal convminication in a media world. New York: Oxford University Press. Gussow, Mel. (1979, April 15). The time of the wounded hero. The New York Times, 1!, 1-2. L. M Prasad (2000) Princzples and practices of managemeni,5th edition educational publishers New Delhi. International Bible society Africa (1984) Holy Bible New international version Harrison, Deborah. (1985). The Terry Fox story an~ the media: A case study in ideology and illness. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 22(4). 496- 514, Howitt, Denis. (1982). The mass media and social problems. Oxford: Pergarnon Press. Kelly, John. (1981). A philosophy of communication and culture. London: Centre for Study of Communications and Culture. King, Marsha. (1992, February 20). Companies doing the right thing. The Province. p. C9.
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Needleman, B., & Weiner, N. (1974). Faces of evil: The good, the had and the ugly. Mimeographed paper, Oswego State College Department of Sociology, New York. Schramm, Wilbur. (1973). Men, messages and media. New York: Harper & Row. Sontag, Susan. (1978). Illness as metaphor. New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. Secretary of State. (1988). Worthless or wonderful: The social stereotyping of persons with disabilities. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services. Secretary of State. (1988). ii way with words: Guidelines and appropriate ierminology for the portrayal qfj3ersons with disabilities. Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services. Weinberg. Nancy, & Santana, Rosina. (1978, November-December). Comic books: Champions of the disabled stereotype. Rehabilitation Literature, pp. 11-12.
Page 41 of46 Role ofmedia in enhancing Christian— religion APPENDICES
A Questionnaire
Dear respondent, I am in my final year of my studies In Kampala International University and I am contacting research on The Role of Media in Enhancing Christianily Religion in Kampala.
Therefore this questionnaire has been designed for the benefit of research as partial fold ilnient for a ward of degree in mass communication at Kampala International University
Sir/madam the information given will be treated with highest degree of confidentiality possible and will be used solely for the purpose of this research
Your co-operation shall be of much importance (read carefully then fill where appropriate)
1) Which Radio or Television station do you prefer listening or watching the most in Uganda? Tick where applicable?
] Capital FM [] Top FM 1 Radio Maria []WBSTV [ ] East Africa TV ]UBC Any other ______
2) What programs do you like
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1] Religious Inspirations [1 Political Talks [1 Business
3) How will you classify your performance in listening or watching it?
[ poor [ ] average £ ] good
4) How many times do you use the following media a) Television b) Magazine c) Newspaper d) Internet ] once [ ] once [ ] once { ] once £ ] twice [ ] twice [ j twice [ ] twice £ 1 thrice { j thrice [1 thrice [1 thrice
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B: Budget
ITEM UNITS UNIT COST TOTAL COST L~___i_____ Typing 50 1000 50000
Printing 50 500 50000 Photocopying 50x3=150 50 7500
Binding 8000 z_~_~ 24000 Note book ji ~3000 ~3000 Pen j2 ~~J600 Pencil ~ 1 j200 ~200
Rubber 1 200 200 Traveling 10 1000 10000 Meals 30 2000 120000
Accommodation 1 100,000 30000 miscellaneous 100000 495500 Totals
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C: Work Plan Sheet
ACTIVITY DURATION PERIOD Developing rese arch proposal 0 Conceptualization of problem 10/06/2017 0 Getting research proposal 1 week to acceptance from the 17/06/2017 University faculty Visiting, giving questioners to despondence, interviewing and 20/06/2017 studying churches performance in 2 week to terms of worsh~ 02/07/2017
Establishment factors affecting ——______worship perfhrmance in relation to 02/07/201 7 media (both electric & print) iweek to
, 09/07/2017 Data analysis of the role of media in enhancing religion (Christianity) 09/07/2017 1 week to 16/07/2017 \\/riting research report U Compi I lag reports from each 16/07/20 17 step above iweek to 0 Editing and proof reading the 24/07/20 17 entire report
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