An Analysis of Media Coverage on Cultism in Kenya: a Case of Citizen TV’s Coverage of Shakahola Cult

Abstract

This study aims to explore media coverage on cultism in Kenya while focusing on Citizen‟s TV coverage of shakahola cult stories. The objectives of the study are as follows:- to analyze the messaging and the content of stories by media, to evaluate the depth and prominence given to shakahola cult stories by citizen TV and to find out the perception of citizen TV journalists/ editors on cults. The theoretical underpinning of this study is adapted from the agenda setting theory. The study used a mixed methods approach employing both content analysis and survey data collection techniques. The sample frames of the study have been narrowed to one TV station, citizen TV and the stories on shakahola cult that were published between 17th march 2023 and 18th June 2023. The sample size of the content analysis incorporates all the footage of the shakahola cult story within this time frame. For the survey a total number of twelve journalists and five editors are purposely selected for the questionnaire. The purpose of the study is to find out whether or not citizen TV has contributed to the fight against cultism by how it has covered the story on shakahola cult. Additionally, whether the perception of the journalists/editors on cults has shaped how the shakahola story was framed, consequently influencing the public‟s take on issues around cultism in Kenya.