Master’s of Science Degree in Mass communication

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    Communication Strategies and Students’ Awareness of Sexual Harassment in Secondary Schools in Uganda.
    (Kampala International University, 2023-06-20) Faizo, Muzeyi
    This study was about communication strategies and students’ awareness of sexual harassment in secondary schools in Uganda, but focusing on selected schools in Wakiso District. The purpose of the study or the main objective of the study was to assess the effect of communication strategies in creating awareness of sexual harassment in selected secondary schools in Wakiso District of Uganda. The specific objectives of the study were; to examine the effect of communication messages on awareness of sexual harassment amongst students in selected secondary schools in Wakiso, to assess the effect of audience mapping on the students’ awareness of sexual harassment in selected secondary schools in Wakiso, and to examine the effect of vehicles (media) used on creating students’ awareness about sexual harassment in selected secondary schools in Wakiso. Using Riemer and Haines’s (2008) theory of dynamic practice-based awareness creation in mediated communication to examine this problem, the study was qualitative in approach and was designed as a case study. It used convenient non probability sampling to arrive at 58 respondents comprising teachers, administrators and students. Purposive sampling was used to determine the schools examined. Data was collected through two methods; Focus Group Discussions and Interviews, and the tools of data collection were Discussion Prompts and Interview Guides respectively. The analysis of data was undertaken by thematic analysis whereby key ideas derived from the data were organized to answer the research questions formulated. The findings revealed that; messages about sexual harassment were designed and create some awareness about sexual harassment in the two schools. However, the consequences of sexual harassment were not included in the messages designed. Specific vehicles or media of communication were employed but only a few of those that would have been used were utilized. Only speeches e.g. in school parades, writings on school notice boards, posters and warnings by teachers and peer support groups were used. The schools did not hold debates or drama or publish magazines related to the problem. The finds further revealed that school administration had some idea about how effective the messages on sexual harassment were but did not have a specific monitoring and evaluation mechanism that would have completed their communication strategy and made it more effective. The study recommended that there is need to improve the design of the message to create awareness of the consequences of sexual harassment, include more vehicles or media for communicating the messages and a need for the schools to institute a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure that the strategy is assessed to make modifications that can improve it. There is need for further research in the schools particularly experimental studies.
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    Media Regulations, Public Morality and Ethical Practices in Selected Television Stations in Kampala, Uganda
    (Kampala International University, 2023-11-17) Doreen, Kiconco
    This study was conducted to establish the effects of media regulation manifested through media ownership and adherence to journalistic ethics as stipulated by the Uganda Communication Act and the Press and Journalist Act, with the following specific objectives, to establish the effects of media regulation on adherence to minimum broadcasting standards on producing content that goes against public morality, to analysis whether media regulation affects adherence to minimum broadcasting standards on producing content that is free from distortion of facts, and to assess the effects of media regulation on adherence to minimum broadcasting standards on producing content that promotes a culture of violence or ethnical prejudice. The study was premised on the media ownership theory and the social responsibility theory. The study adopted an explanatory research design, where both interview guides and video recordings were used as the major data collection methods. In relation to the effect of media regulation on immorality in programmes aired on the three stations, the study found through content analysis that all three stations aired programme contents that featured immorality. The findings showed that despite the existence of media regulations enforced by UCC. It was noted that the videos of programmes on the three stations casually discussed sex and sexual acts in a manner that was extremely explicit. However, it was concluded that media regulation does not enhance the adherence to the regulatory standards on immorality. This was concluded from the findings of the study that showed through content analysis, that all the videos of the programmes from the three stations that were analyzed showed a high level of immorality despite the existence of media regulations enforced by UCC. The Key Informants also revealed through the interviews that there was a high degree of immorality in television programmes in Uganda despite the existence of the regulations that UCC enforces with all broadcasters. The study recommends that there is need to enhance the regulatory framework by revising and clarifying rules related to content standards, emphasizing the prohibition of content that goes against public morality. Regulations should be specific and easy to interpret. Moreover, there is need to encourage public participation in the formulation and review of media regulations. Public opinion should be considered when setting broadcasting standards to reflect the moral values and expectations of the community. The study recommends more sensitization to be undertaken by the media regulators and increased enforcement of media ethics by the regulator
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    Media service act, 2016 and the freedom of Media in Tanzania
    (Kampala International University, College of Humanities and social Science, 2023-03) Yahaya, Omari Mhando
    Media freedom is a crucial component of democracy, protecting fundamental human rights such as freedom of opinion and expression. While vibrant democracies in the world have articles that prohibit enacting laws against media freedom, many nations, particularly developing countries like Tanzania, have laws in place that restrict media operations, limiting freedom of expression and that of the press. This study investigates the impact of the Media Service Act, 2016, on media freedom in Tanzania, using qualitative research methods to gather insights from journalists, human rights activists, and politicians. The study employed thematic analysis to analyze the collected data. The study reveals a complex relationship between the Media Service Act and media freedom violations in Tanzania. Findings show that the Act has had a partial impact on editorial content so far, with varied opinions among respondents. Some believe the law had no effect, while others observed changes specifically in the investigative reporting and analysis of critical issues in media, and a third group saw positive effects on professionalism and ethics. Furthermore, the study found that self-censorship exists among Tanzanian journalists, partially influenced by the Act and other regulations, but denied by a few respondents who associate it with unprofessionalism. Moreover, government crackdowns on media and journalists have been observed to be partially caused by the Media Service Act, 2016. The study concludes that the Media Service Act is partly responsible for media freedom violations in Tanzania; while other laws and regulations have been found to be other factors together with actions of government and its agencies. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the Media Service Act, along with other restrictive laws, should be amended to protect media freedom as guaranteed in the Tanzanian Constitution.
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    University-Uganda
    (Kampala International University, College of Humanities and social Science, 2022-11) Kakooza, Bukuri
    research takes a critical look at the effect of user generated contents on news credibility among university students in Uganda. It also tried to establish the factors that have influenced the increasing growth and popularity of user generated contents. User generated contents for the purpose of this research was limited to likes, comments and blogging. Blogging has become a channel through which people share ideas, news, advice and analyses on different happenings in the society. The practice has turned out to be journalistic, with a good number of bloggers running authoritative and influential blogs, where thousands of people flock for information. In Uganda, blogs are now a permanent fixture in the media environment as their popularity grows, with bloggers holding influence on political, economic and social discourses. Their growing influence has made bloggers share audiences with traditional media (newspapers, Radio and Television). This study tried to identify challenges posed by user generated contents on news credibility and how students respond to new threats. The study also sought to identify the factors that have influenced user generated contents (Blogging) in Uganda and how journalists perceive bloggers. The study was guided by the following research questions: (i) what challenges is user generated content posed towards news credibility in Uganda? (ii) How students respond to challenges posed by user generated contents in Uganda? (iii) What are factors that influence the perception of news credibility of likes and comments on an item in Uganda? (iv) What is the relationship between embedded UGCs in news items and user’s perception in Uganda? To achieve these objectives, descriptive survey and cross-sectional designs were carried out. The research sampled 385 Kampala International University (KIU) students in many departments and colleges namely mass media, social sciences, law and others to put this research in perspective, New Media and Public Sphere Theories were briefly examined. The findings reveal that there are some threats posed by blogs on news credibility, but most students read blogs because they find information on the sites useful and they are now getting ideas for their course works and academics from the sites. The study concluded that bloggers are not journalists but their work is very important in complementing the work of journalism.
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    Citizen journalism and print media industry in Uganda
    (Kampala International University: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2018-10) Muluta, Mpungu
    This research takes a critical look at challenges of citizen journalism in Uganda. It also tried to establish the factors that have influenced the increasing growth and popularity of citizen journalism. Citizen journalism for the purpose of this research was limited to blogging. Blogging has become a channel through which people share ideas, news, advice and analyses on different happenings in the society. The practice has turned out to be journalistic, with a good number of bloggers running authoritative and influential blogs, where thousands of people flock for information. In Uganda, blogs are now a permanent fixture in the media environment as their popularity grows, with bloggers holding influence on political, economic and social discourses. Their growing influence has made bloggers share audiences with traditional media (newspapers). This study tried to identify challenges posed by blogging on print journalism and how journalists respond to new threats. The study also sought to identify the factors that have influenced citizen journalism (Blogging) in Uganda and how journalists perceive bloggers. The study was guided by the following research questions: (i) what challenges citizen journalism has posed to print media industry in Uganda? (ii) How newspapers respond to challenges posed by citizen journalism in Uganda? (iii) What factors that influence citizen journalism practice in Uganda? (iv) How print media industry perceives citizen journalism practice in Uganda? To achieve these objectives, descriptive survey and cross-sectional designs were carried out. The research sampled 80 journalists in five media houses in Uganda, namely Bukedde, New Vision, Daily Monitor, Red Pepper and Observer. To put this research in perspective, New Media and Public Sphere Theories were briefly examined. The findings reveal that there are some threats posed by blogs on print media, but most journalists read blogs because they find information on the sites useful and they are now getting ideas for their stories from the sites. The study concluded that bloggers are not journalists but their work is very important in complementing the work of journalism.