Electronic Media And The Coverage Of Political Events In Jinja-Uganda, A Case Study Of Nbs Radio

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION.

DEDICATION

APPROVAL iii

ACKNOWLDGEMENT iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS v

LIST OF TABLES ix

LIST OF FIGURES x

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS x

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background information to the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 1

1.3 Objectives of the study 2

1.3.lGeneral objectives 2

1.3.2 Specific objectives 2

1.4 Research questions 2

1.5 Scope of the study 2

1.5.1 Geographical scope 3

1.5.2 Content scope 3

1.5.3 Time scope 3

1.6 Significance of the study 3

1.7 Justification of the study 4

1.8 The purpose of the study 5

1.9 Conceptual framework 5

CHAPTERTWO 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0 Introduction 6

2.1 Definition of Electronic Media 6

2.2 functions of radio 6

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2.3 History of NBS FM .7

2.4 Media trends in Uganda 8

2.5. The problems faced by journalists covering political activities 8

2. 6 Benefits achieved from covering political activities 9

2.7 The impact of political news stories on the audience of NBS FM 10

CHAPTERTHREE 13

METHODOLOGY 13

3.0 Introduction 13

3.1 Research design 13

3.2 Study area and population 13

3.3.2.1 Simple random sampling 14

3.3.2.2Purposive sampling 14

3.3.2.3 Accidental sampling 14

3.3.3 Sample procedure 15

3.4 Methods for data collection 15

3.4.1 Instruments 15

3.4.1.1 Questionnaires 15

3.4.1.2 Interview 15

3.4.1.3 Focus group discussion 15

3.4.1.4 Observation 16

3.4.1.5 Sources of data 16

3.4.3 Validity and reliability of instruments 16

3.5 Data processing 17

3.6 Data analysis 17

3.7 Ethical procedure 17

CHAPTER FOUR 19

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 19

4.0 Introduction 19

4.1 Bio data of the respondents 19

4.1.1 Sex of the respondents 20

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ABSTRACT

The study examined electronic media and the coverage of political events

in Jinja Uganda using a case study of NBS FM —Jinja district. The specific

objectives of the study were: to find out the causes of the problems

faced by journalists covering political activities, the impacts of political

news stories on the audience of NBS FM and in what ways can NBS FM

carry out the coverage of political events? A descriptive research design

was applied because it enabled the researcher to describe electronic

media and coverage of political events. A total of 100 respondents

participated in the study. The main tools of data collection were interview

guide and questionnaires. The results of the study revealed that the

media still faces problems related to lack of independence. The many

regulations that the media has to comply with sometimes impose selfcensorship

upon them; and also media ownership and style of a media

house. The results concluded that a range of formal and informal

constraints impose the severest limitations to press freedom in Uganda;

but the informal constraints impose the severest limitations to press

freedom. The duty of the media is to provide citizens with the

information they need and want to know. Regulatory frameworks are

suffocating media freedom.The study recommended that: The

government should adhere to all the provisions of the supreme law

concerning media freedom in the country as stated in The 1995 Constitution of Uganda.