Print Media Coverage and Voting Behaviors of Electorates in Uganda. A case study of Daily Monitor.
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Date
2016-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Abstract
The researcher was interested in investigating on the print media and changing of voting
behavior of electorates in Uganda. The research was guided by objectives which were intended
to; examine the role of print media coverage on shaping the voting behaviors of electorates in
Uganda, find out the challenges encountered by print media coverage in shaping the voting
behaviors of electorates in Uganda and establish the strategies devised to overcome the
challenges faced in shaping the voting behaviors of electorates in Uganda. The literatuure was
reiewed inline with the research objectives above and it was obtained from books, internet,
journals and publications of previous researchers.The research design was cross-sectional
descriptive and gender-based where by both male and female respondents were considered and
from the target population of 120 only 80 respondents were considered for this study. Majority of
the respondents were male and their highest level of education was masters. The findings of the
researcher made him conclude that print media play significant role in shaping the behaviors of
electorates in Uganda. Print media should therefore be left to present as much information on
elections as they can to the voters in general since failure to do so may lead to low turn up or
making of wrong choices, which affects the country’s development. It an important task for the
print media to monitor political life and to draw the attention of voters to how politicians are
fulfilling their responsibilities to society so that those who cannot meet the voter’s expectations
can be left out. This is because print media act as the channel through which political
communication takes place by presenting the opinion leaders and politicians to engage in debates
in their drawing rooms. Newspapers must also allow the myriad opinions from citizens sent into
the newsroom to make their way in the news without segregation. The recommendations were
made to print media so as to be fair in allocating the parties equal amount of space to express
their views. Journalists should very well scrutinize the conduct and rhetoric of the politicians and
a strong, intensive, effective and independent press effectively does. The government and
politicians in particular should be watched when they abuse their powers, exceed their mandates,
commit blunders they would prefer to conceal, and elevate themselves to positions of non
accountable authority. Such information must be released to the public through media and others
were for NGOs to advocate for the rights of journalists. Due to time and resources contraints,
areas for further research were also indicated.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the College of Humanities and Social
Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Award of Bachelor’s Degree in Mass
Communication of Kampala International University.
Keywords
Print Media, Voting Behaviors, Coverage, Daily Monitor.