Media Accountability and Political Interest in East Africa

Abstract

This study assessed whether a more accountable media leads to greater interest in politics at the individual level and across all East African regions, accounting for audience characteristics such as education and social status. Results were drawn from a stratified multistage cluster sample of 1,395 citizens living in 15 regions of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The research question was whether privately owned media were perceived as exercising responsible conduct and enhancing political interest both within and across all 15 regions still engulfed in ethno-political sectarianism. Hierarchical linear modeling results showed that social status was not a significant predictor at all levels of the analysis. It also showed that media accountability enhanced political interest, particularly when education was accounted for at the individual level and across all regions.

Keywords:

• East Africa
• hierarchical linear modeling
• media accountability
• media ownership
• political interest
• press control