Media Spectacle in Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers and the Case of Former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko Mbuvi

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze Media Spectacle in Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers and using the case of former Nairobi County Governor, Mike Sonko. The study was anchored by Stuart Hall’s reception theory. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish events in 2020 in the Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers that depict former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko as a media spectacle, to assess the prominence given to former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko in Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers that depicts him as a media spectacle, to identify the ideological standpoints on articles published in Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers that depict former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko as a media spectacle and finally, to analyze ways in which photos used in Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers depict political conflict of former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko as a media spectacle. The study utilized descriptive survey research design and mixed research approach. The study population was 184 Newspapers from the Standard Newspapers and the Daily Nation Newspapers in the months of October, November and December, 2020. The sample size of the study was 65 articles drawn from both the Standard and the Daily Nation Newspapers. Textual analysis code sheet was used to obtain data from the published articles and photos on Mike Sonko’s coverage. All articles in the sampled newspapers published on Mike Sonko were analyzed. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences whereas qualitative data was analyzed using thematic narratives. Quantitative data was presented in tables and figures whereas qualitative data was presented in narratives. The study findings were that the newspapers did not cover much on Sonko’s leadership as Nairobi governor, what he has done for the residents of Nairobi instead they concentrated on his glitzy lifestyle, flashy clothes and expensive jewelry, how he violated constitutional laws while forgetting to cover his legacy and achievements in the county thus depicting him as a media spectacle. The study concludes that Mike Sonko was depicted a media spectacle by the Standard and Daily Nation Newspapers coverage thus depicting him as liar, a populist, a corrupt leader, intellectual dwarf, wailing governor and mistaken good hearten man. The study recommends that the media should not give a wider coverage to an individual at the cost of other news and events of importance to the economy and livelihood of the country. Lastly, the study recommends that future research should be done involving Nairobi County Assembly members, the city hall officers and the residents of Nairobi City County in order to obtain their ideologies since they worked closely with Sonko.