PREPARED BY
OVERVIEW
This report presents findings from the analysis of the coverage of children-related issues in Uganda for the period 1st – 14th April 2023 by various online media platforms. The main method used was content analysis.
Overall, the analyzed data results show that 629 articles were published online on children and children-related issues in Uganda, indicating a decrease of 13 articles from those published during the last two weeks of March 2023.
Two hundred sixty-seven (267) articles focused on keeping children Alive[1], 183 on keeping children learning[2], while 179 were on keeping children safe[3].
BI-WEEKLY ANALYSIS OF EDITORIAL AND JOURNALISTIC REPORTING TRENDS BY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON CHILDREN IN UGANDA (APRIL 1ST – 14TH 2023)
INTRODUCTION
Ultimate Multimedia Consult (UMC) is required to present to UNICEF Uganda an analysis of editorial and journalistic reporting trends on children-related issues in online publications after every two weeks. This report presents findings on how online publications covered children-related issues for the first two weeks of April 2023.
The report also shows how UNICEF Uganda messages, including press releases, reports and expertise, are reported on by online publications. In addition, the report gives insights into the accuracy and appropriateness of the information provided on children’s issues.
The analyzed content was drawn from news websites based in Uganda like: NTV Uganda, NBS TV, Bukedde and Capital FM; other websites like: Daily Monitor, New Vision, Uganda Radio Network, Chimp Reports, PML Daily, Nile Post and The Independent among others as well as websites based in other countries. The analyzed data was accessed from online publications/platforms.
ONLINE ANALYSIS
We captured 629 articles from online publications reporting children-related issues during the first two weeks of April 2023 (1st – 14th) indicating a decrease of 13 articles from those recorded during the last two weeks of March 2023. Below is a table showing a breakdown by publication, and category.
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CATEGORIES
Two hundred sixty-seven (267) articles were centered on keeping children alive.
Issues on keeping children learning were reported in 183 articles.
Articles on keeping children safe were in 179 articles.
Graph showing the distribution of story articles in terms of categories
GENDER OF AUTHORS
During the period under review, male authors reported and or wrote most articles. While some articles had more than one author, 110 articles had no authors specified.
SENTIMENT
We found 56% of the articles on children issues published online during the first two weeks of April 2023 had a positive sentiment[1]. Children-related articles with neutral sentiment were the least.
Out of the 207 children-related articles we recorded having negative sentiments,only one (01) articlementioned UNICEF. The mention was in the article below:
- https://chimpreports.com/inside-story-how-iso-spy-olwedo-was-shot-at-ex-mp-jacklet-atuhaires-house/ Inside Story: How ISO Spy, Olwedo, was Shot at Ex MP Jacklet Atuhaire’s House
SHARE OF VOICE
Majority of the articles recorded during the first two weeks of April 2023 had a high share of voice on children and children-related issues.
TYPE OF COVERAGE
The graph below shows the type of coverage of children-related articles online during the period 1st – 14th April 2023
MESSAGE FIDELITY
Majority (84%) of the children-related articles recorded during the first two weeks of April 2023 had high message fidelity. This implies that they laid out their messages clearly, through the use of facts, statistics, audio-visuals and sources, making it easy for users to understand them as intended by authors. Such articles are credible and trusted by content consumers.
NATURE OF QUOTES
Out of the 629 children-related articles we recorded from online publications, 519 articles had direct quotes indicating journalists’ sourcing and clarity in presenting news. 15 articles had no quotes.
USE OF VISUALS
In the articles recorded during this period, all 629 had audio–visuals (photos, videos, audio and graphic as shown below.
Articles with visuals are understood much more than those without.
ISSUES COVERED
The graphic below shows the topics covered in children-related articles online. The size of the words in the figure below and the numbers shown in the brackets (after the graphic) reflect the frequency at which the various topics were reported on in online publications.
From the articles captured, we noted that the issues of Child health (100 times), and Education (93 times), were the most covered during this period. These were followed by:
- Child protection (84)
- Schools (55 times)
- Sports (40)
- Defilement (32)
- Maternal health (30)
- Infant Mortality (22)
- HIV/AIDS (18)
- Malaria (18)
- Parenting (18)
- Child death (17)
- Food and Nutrition (17)
- Child trafficking (17)
- Domestic Violence (13)
- Children with disabilities (12)
Note that some articles covered more than one issue
ARTICLES DISTRIBUTION PER REGION
Most (413) of the articles recorded were from the Central region while the Western region had the least articles at 51 as represented on the graph above.
While some articles cut across different districts, others were general in nature and therefore were not recorded as coming from any of the four regions of Uganda.
From the figure above, Kampala District had the highest coverage with 344 articles.
Mityana (5), Gomba (1), Wakiso (15), Mubende (6), Mukono (18), Mpigi (4), Masaka (8), Luweero (6), Kayunga (4), Bukomansimbi (3), Buikwe (2), Kalangala (1), Kyotera (2)
Katakwi (6), Serere (4), Bugiri (4), Bukedea (4), Mbale (3), Bulambuli (1), Tororo (3), Kamuli (3), Kaliro (2), Jinja (6), Iganga (3), Butaleja (2), Namisindwa (1), Bududa (1), Kaberamaido (3), Amuria (3), Kumi (3), Kapelebyong (3), Ngora (3), Soroti (3)
Kabarole (5), Hoima (6), Kasese (6), Bundibugyo (5), Rubanda (2), Ntungamo (1), Mbarara (2), Kyegegwa (3), Kisoro (2), Kakumiro (1), Kabale (3), Ibanda (1), Hoima (6), Ntoroko (1), Buliisa (6), Mitooma (1)
Lira (12), Kotido (12), Arua (11), Abim (8), Moroto (8), Kaabong (7), Napak (7), Nakapiripirit (7), Gulu (1), Amudat (7), Apac (2), Nebbi (1), Napak (2), Moroto (1), Madi-Okollo (2),), Kitgum (2), Madi-Okollo (5), Karenga (5), Nabilatuk (5)
UNICEF UGANDA WEBSITE ARTICLES
This part analyzes UNICEF Uganda messages, including press releases, reports and expertise, and how they are reported on by UNICEF Uganda website.
As of April 14, 2023, the UNICEF Uganda website had not published any articles or press releases in the first two weeks of the month (April).
UNICEF MENTIONS
During this period, UNICEF was mentioned 12 times in 629 children-related articles in online publications. Below are links to the articles where UNICEF was mentioned during the first two weeks of April 2023:
EDUCATION
- https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/AIRTEL-AFRICA-PLC-61661826/news/Unicef-Airtel-Partner-to-Increase-Access-to-Digital-Learning-in-Rural-Schools-43431620/ Unicef, Airtel Partner to Increase Access to Digital Learning in Rural Schools
- https://www.busiweek.com/airtel-rwanda-unicef-partner-to-increase-access-to-digital-learning/ Airtel Rwanda, UNICEF Partner To Increase Access To Digital Learning
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/janet-calls-for-commitments-in-celebrating-women-s-days-4196140 Janet calls for commitments in celebrating women’s days
IMMUNIZATION
- https://reliefweb.int/report/world/gavi-launches-new-learning-initiative-address-final-barriers-immunisation-equity Gavi launches new learning initiative to address the final barriers to immunisation equity
- https://www.jsi.com/gavi-new-learning-initiative-address-barriers-immunisation-equity/ Gavi launches new learning initiative to address the final barriers to immunisation equity
OTHER MENTIONS
- https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/opinion/article/2001470875/step-up-efforts-to-bring-growing-child-labour-problem-to-an-end Step up efforts to bring growing child labour problem to an end
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/what-you-need-to-know-about-down-syndrome-4198828 What you need to know about Down Syndrome
- https://latitude.plos.org/2023/04/more-reporting-from-the-un-2023-water-conference-in-new-york/ More reporting from the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/world-health-day-2023-health-for-all-4187834 World Health Day 2023 – Health for all
- https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/new-bean-varieties-to-fight-iron-and-zinc-deficiencies/ New Bean Varieties To Fight Iron and Zinc Deficiencies
- https://chimpreports.com/inside-story-how-iso-spy-olwedo-was-shot-at-ex-mp-jacklet-atuhaires-house/ Inside Story: How ISO Spy, Olwedo, was Shot at Ex MP Jacklet Atuhaire’s House
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/kawempe-hospital-gets-donation-of-maternal-an-158108 Kawempe Hospital gets donation of maternal and child health items.
COMPARATOR MENTIONS
The Ministry of Health (MoH) was the most mentioned comparator in 64 articles, followed by, the Ministry of Education & Sports (MoES) 37 World Health Organization (WHO) with 17 among other comparators.
Below is a breakdown of all comparator mentions
| COMPARATOR | NUMBER OF MENTIONS |
| Ministry of Health (MoH) | 64 |
| Ministry of Education & Sports (MoES) | 37 |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | 17 |
| European Union | 7 |
| National Union of Disabled persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) | 4 |
| Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development | 3 |
| BRAC | 3 |
| Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations (UNASO) | 2 |
| USAID | 3 |
| Care International | 1 |
| Enabel Uganda | 1 |
| AOU | 1 |
| ActionAid | 1 |
| World Bank | 1 |
| WFP | 1 |
| Uganda Red Cross Society | 4 |
| Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO) | 2 |
| Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) | 1 |
| UHRC | 1 |
| ILO | 1 |
SOCIAL MEDIA INSIGHTS 1ST – 14TH APRIL 2023
SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS
This part looks at how different media organizations in Uganda posted about children-related issues on social media. During this period, NTV Uganda, The New Vision, Nile Post, NBS TV and Daily Monitor posted the most on children. Posting was mainly on aspects of digital learning, education, girl child, school strikes, accidents, pediatrics, child malnutrition, homosexuality in schools, teaching, child murder, child health, teachers, menstrual health, school feeding, child marriage, teenage pregnancy and other sex-related offences against children, reproductive health, maternal and neonatal health, child protection, parenting and violence against children, among others. Below are snippets from and links to the posts captured from social media in the first two weeks of April:
