Media coverage of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Kenya and Tanzania: Content analysis of newspaper articles in East Africa

Abstract

Abstract: This study uses the framing theory to analyse dimensions being conveyed in the coverage of COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania between February 2020 and April 2020. A quantitative analysis of the Daily Nation and Citizen newspapers showed different patterns of framing of the virus. Specifically, this analysis focuses on multiple frames used by the two newspapers with respect to the following topical categories: context, basic information, preventive information, treatment information, medical research, Social context, Economic context, Political context, personal stories and other. Although the Daily Nation published more stories than the Citizen Newspaper, only the frame personal stories were significantly higher in the Daily Nation compared to Citizen Newspapers.

Keywords:

• coronavirus
• framing
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• citizen newspaper
• daily nation

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

The novel coronavirus pandemic took the world by surprise and left devastation of varying degrees on the global stage. Regardless of who frames the knowledge, most of what we know about coronavirus came from mediated sources. Presently, most countries in Africa are experiencing the second wave of the pandemic, while a few are stepping into the third wave. Despite these phases of COVID-19 experiences on the continent, this study focused on the early stage of COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania through the lenses of The Daily Nation Newspaper in Kenya and The Citizen Newspaper in Tanzania with an aim to identify how these two newspapers framed the pandemic and identify differences in depictions of the pandemic. Furthermore, this study is important as the public’s behaviour, reaction or response to a situation is usually a reflection of government approach to the issue and media representations of the event.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Evonne Mwangale Kiptinness

Evonne Mwangale Kiptinness is a PhD candidate and an Assistant Lecturer at Daystar University, Nairobi, Kenya. She possesses years of experience in practising development communication and has a passion for health communication. Her thesis examines interpersonal communication within the Mentor Mother Technique in curbing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Kenya.

John-Bell Okoye

John-Bell Okoye is a PhD candidate in communication at Daystar University, Kenya. Media and health discourses are his areas of research interest.