The Role of the Mainstream Media in Mitigating Security Threats in Africa
Abstract
With key focus on assessing the role of the mainstream media in mitigating security threats in
Africa: a case of Kenya and Somalia, the study sought to assess the effectiveness of the mainstream
media in contributing to the mitigation of security threats in the Africa’s countries of Kenya and
Somalia, determining the positive and negative impacts of the mainstream media in mitigating
security threats in the Africa countries’ of Kenya and Somalia and establishing the prospects and
challenges facing the mainstream media in their role in mitigating security threats in the Africa
countries’ of Kenya and Somalia. The study has noted that Security dynamics around the globe
have become increasingly complex and multidimensional thus necessitating multi-sectorial efforts
in guaranteeing safety and security. Government security agencies, private firms, nongovernmental
organizations, and the mainstream media are increasingly having a role to play on
matters pertaining to security. Mainstream media exposure of security related matters is widely
effective in contributing to the mitigation of security threats. For example, wide mainstream media
coverage of terror threats, anti-extremism and radicalization messages have made successful
contribution in the prevention of widespread terrorism. The study has found that mainstream media
can make both positive and negative impacts in efforts geared towards mitigating security threats.
The mainstream media in certain countries has acted as a third party watchdog highlighting to the
public local problems and bringing out hidden stories through investigative reporting. Mainstream
media can also influence policy decisions particularly as policy makers think of how they can
prevent and respond to emerging security threats. In South Africa, for example, the mainstream
media has played an important role in motivating the general public to push policy makers on
intervening and addressing emerging security challenges. The mainstream media has also served
as a tool security agencies can use to pass across their message. The study has found that
mainstream media is faced with a number of challenges in their role in mitigating security threats.
The challenges include economic constraints, prohibitive regulations, declining freedom of
information, commercialization of news, strained cooperation between the government and
mainstream media outlets and many more. In terms of economic constraints, the study has found
that that funding for many mainstream media organizations is declining due to audience
fragmentation across different existing mainstream media. The study recommends that media
freedom should be secured to ensure effective performance of mainstream media as a gatekeeper
in charge of setting agendas, filtering issues and maintaining a balance of views. The mainstream
media should not be censored since it plays different roles in mitigation of security. For example,
in certain countries the mainstream media usually acts as a third party watchdog that provides the
public with information on local problems.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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