| dc.description.abstract | This study was an investigation into the role of the print media in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kenya. There exists a gap to date in literature on the important question of how preventive knowledge on HIV/AIDS is presented in the Kenyan print media. A critical analysis of how this information is covered was necessary in order to determine whether there is need for change of style in the presentation of this information or not.
The data for this study was gathered using the quantitative research design. The study used the content analysis methodology in which a sample of the Daily Nation newspapers was searched for articles on HIV/AIDS. The daily Nation was purposively sampled for this study because it has the largest selling publication with the highest circulation and therefore can adequately represent Kenya's newspapers. All the issues of the year 2010 were purposively sampled and this yielded a total of 365 copies for the study.
The key findings of this study indicated that the print media in Kenya lacked consistency in the coverage of HIV / AIDS issues. They were also found to be lacking a clear editorial policy on the coverage of the epidemic that could guide them in a sustained and effective method of coverage of the epidemic. Prominence of the HIV / AIDS articles, which is a very crucial aspect in coverage, was also found to be lacking.
This study recommended that if the print media in Kenya is to be useful and successful in its efforts to curb the epidemic, they should focus on consistency in their coverage. Prominence should also be given to the articles on HIV/AIDS through allocating them to the most prominent pages in the newspapers. A clear editorial policy on the coverage of HIV/AIDS information should also be designed. Finally, this study recommended that the print media should involve the general public, including people living with HIV / AIDS in the discussion of the epidemic. This can be achieved through publishing more letters to the editor from the public on HIV / AIDS issues and publishing more feature stories on HIV/AIDS. | en_US |
