A Comparative Study of Print and Online Media Content in Kenya: A Case of ‘Daily Nation ’ Newspaper BY TINEGA GEOFFREY NGOGE K50/60591/2013 SUPERVISOR DR. SAMUEL SIRINGI A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI, SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES NOVEMBER, 2014 i Declaration This is to certify that this research is my own original work and is in no way a reproduction of any other work that has been previously presented for award of a degree in any University. No part of this proposal may be reproduced without the prior permission of the author or the University of Nairobi. TINEGA G. NGOGE ……………………….……. ….……….……………… K50/60591/2013 SIGNATURE DATE This research has been submitted for examination with my approval as University Supervisor. DR. SAMUEL SIRINGI ……………………….……. ….……….……………… SIGNATURE DATE ii Dedication To my dad, Mr. David Ngoge, who put in me the desire to enroll for a postgraduate degree. He was my greatest inspiration as I embarked on my studies and his wisdom and words of advice have propelled me this far. iii Acknowledgements I thank the Almighty God for the gift of life and above all for his abundance. His grace has been sufficient to me thus far. My sincere appreciation goes to Dr. Samuel Siringi of the University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. As my supervisor, he provided valuable insights that simplified the challenging aspects of research work and all the time proved helpful as I was undertaking and writing this research. My gratitude and appreciation also go to my lecturers who not only provided the much required knowledge during class sessions but also added value to that knowledge. I feel greatly indebted to my elder brother, Solomon Ontomwa for having confidence in my capabilities and above all for providing the all important financial support that I relied on to undertake my studies. To my kid sister, Ednah Mogoi who stayed with me in the period that my studies lasted, I appreciate her for the unwavering support. Thank you and May God bless you all. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration………………………………………………………………………………..……...(i) Dedication…………………………………………….……………………….………...………(ii) Acknowledgements ……………………………….……………………………………..……..(iii) List of Abbreviations ...……………………………………………………………………….(viii) Operational Definitions…………..………………….………………………………………..…(x) Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………..….....(xi) CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY……………………...……......………………………….....1 1.0 Overview of the Study………...……………………………......……………………..………1 1.1 Background to the Study………………………….........………………………………….......1 1.1.1 Newspapers in Kenya...............................................................................................3 1.2 Statement of the Problem............................................………………………………….......…5 1.3 Objectives of the Research..……………………..…………………......……………………...6 1.3.1 Main Objective….....………………………………………………………………6 1.3.2 Specific Objectives........………………………………………………………..…6 1.4 Research Questions……………………...………………………...………………………......6 1.5 Justification for the Study…………………...………………………………………...............6 1.6 Scope and Limitations of the Study……………………………......……………………….....7 v CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………......………………………………......9 2.0 Overview of the Chapter............................................................................................................9 2.1 Media Convergence and Online Journalism..…………………………………………........…9 2.2 Newspapers in the Digital Age......……………………………………………………......…14 2.3 The Development of Online Newspapers…….....…………………….……………..........…16 2.4 The Newspaper Industry in Select Countries of the World.…………….………….……..…19 2.4.1 Newspaper in the USA..............................................................................................19 2.4.2 Newspapers in Britain...............................................................................................24 2.4.3 Newspapers in Russia...............................................................................................26 2.5 Theoretical Framework of the Study .......………………………………………………..….27 2.5.1 The Media Dependency Theory................................................................................27 2.5.2 The Functional Theory of Media and Society..........................................................29 2.6 Conceptual Framework for the Study......................................................................................30 2.7 Philosophical Paradigm of the Study…………...……………………………………………31 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………...………………………………………........…32 3.0 Overview of the Chapter..........................................................................................................32 3.1 Research Approach ….………………………………...……………………………….…....32 3.2 Research Method…...……………………….…….…………………………..…….….....…32 3.3 Population and Sampling ..……………...…………….……………………….…...……......33 vi 3.4 Data Collection Method…………………………………………………………………...…34 3.5 Credibility and Dependability of Data..…………………….……………...…………….......34 3.6 Ethical Considerations in this Research.......................................................……………....…35 CHAPTER FOUR DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION……….........…………..…36 4.0 Overview of the Chapter …………...………………….............................……………....….36 4.1 CONTENT OF THE NEWSPAPERS ...............................…….....…………..…….….....…36 4.1.1 Notices..........................…….....…………..…….…................................................38 4.1.2 Special Features........................................................................................................41 4.1.3 Advertisements....... ..........................…….....…………..….................….….....….44 4.1.4 Job Vacancies..........................…….............…………..…….…..............................47 4.1.5 Tenders..........................…….....…………..…….…................................................48 4.1.6 Obituaries..................................................................................................................50 4.1.7 County News..................…….....…………..…….…...............................................51 4.1.8 Photos..........................…….....…………..…….…..................................................52 4.1.9 Content variations.....................................................................................................56 4.2 LAYOUT OF THE NEWSPAPERS .................................…….....…………..…….….....…59 4.2.1 Links to Related Stories............................................................................................59 4.2.2 Feedback/Interactivity................ ..........................…….....…………..….................62 4.2.3 Use of Space ................ ..........................…….....……...…..….................….….....63 4.2.4 Figure Quotes................ ..........................…….....……...…..….................….….....65 4.2.5 Accessibility of Stories..................................……...…..…….….............................67 4.2.6 Accuracy of Dates ............... ..........................…….....……...…..….................…...67 4.2.7 Story Summaries............... ..........................…….....…………..….................….…69 vii 4.3 PROMINENCE IN THE NEWSPAPERS .................................…….....…………..….....…71 4.3.1 Front Page Stories.........................................…….....…………..…....................….72 4.3.2 Back Page Stories.....................................................................................................74 4.3.3 News updates/Developing Stories..........…….....………….….................….…......75 4.3.4 Newspaper Previews..........……..........................…………..….................….….....77 CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......……….........…………..…79 5.0 Overview of the Chapter …………...…………...……............................……………..…….79 5.1 Summary of the Findings.........................................................................................................79 5.2 Conclusions from the Research ..............................................................................................80 5.3 Recommendations from the Study...........................................................................................81 5.4 Recommendations for Further Research..................................................................................83 REFERENCES.....................................................................................…………………….....…84 APPENDIX 1 Incorrect dates on ‘The Cutting Edge’ of the online newspaper dated 16 th June 2014…………..88 APPENDIX 2 Video links to stories in the online newspaper of 19 th June 2014…………………………..……89 APPENDIX 3 Most commented stories on the online newspaper of 20 th June 2014……………………...……90 viii List of Abbreviations BBC British Broadcasting Corporation CORD Coalition for Reforms and Democracy CID Criminal Investigations Department CS Cabinet Secretary DP Deputy President DPP Director of Public Prosecutions FKE Federation of Kenya Employers GDC Geothermal Development Company ICC International Criminal Court IFMIS Integrated Financial Management Information System IG Inspector General IT Information Technology INMA International Newspaper Marketing Association KARF Kenya Advertising Research Foundation KCB Kenya Commercial Bank KDF Kenya Defence Forces