PREPARED BY
OVERVIEW
This report presents findings from the analysis of the coverage of children-related issues in Uganda for the period 1st – 14th July 2023 by various online media platforms. The main method used for analysis was content analysis.
Overall, the analysed data results show that 458 articles were published online on children and children-related issues in Uganda, indicating a decrease of 374 articles from those published during the last two weeks of June 2023.
Two hundred forty-eight (248) articles focused on keeping children Safe[1], 83 on keeping children Alive[2], and 127 were on keeping children Learning[3].
BI-WEEKLY ANALYSIS OF EDITORIAL AND JOURNALISTIC REPORTING TRENDS BY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON CHILDREN IN UGANDA (JULY 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 and children-related issues in online platforms every two weeks. This report presents findings on how online publications covered children-related issues for the first two weeks of July 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, Bukedde and Capital FM; other websites like: Daily Monitor, New Vision, Uganda Radio Network, NTV Uganda, Daily Express, Mazima News, PML Daily, Nile Post, The Independent, and Various YouTube Channels like UBC TV, Spark TV, Bukedde TV, NBS TV, Urban TV among others, as well as websites based in other countries. The analysed data was accessed from online publications/platforms.
- ONLINE ANALYSIS
We captured 458 articles from online publications reporting children and children-related issues during the first two weeks of July 2023 (1st – 14th) indicating a decrease of 374 articles from those recorded during the last two weeks of June 2023. Below is a table showing a breakdown by publication, and category.
- CATEGORIES
Two hundred forty-eight (248) articles were centered on keeping children safe.
Issues on keeping children learning were reported in 127 articles. Articles on keeping children alive were in 83 articles.
- GENDER OF AUTHORS
During the period under review, male authors reported and/or wrote most articles. While some articles had more than one author, 54 articles had no authors specified.
- SENTIMENT
We found that 38% of the articles on children and children related issues published online during the first two weeks of July 2023 had a Positive sentiment[4]. Children-related articles with neutral sentiment were the least in number.
Out of the 166 children-related articles we recorded having a negative sentiment, two (02) articlesmentioned UNICEF. The mentions were in the articles below;
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/family/corporal-punishment-still-practiced-with-impu-164440 Corporal punishment still practiced with impunity, positive discipline being encouraged
- https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2023/07/school-with-over-1300-students-has-seven-classrooms.html School with over 1300 students has seven classrooms.
- SHARE OF VOICE
The majority (53.7%) of the articles recorded during the first two weeks of July 2023 had a high share of voice[5] 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 July 2023
- MESSAGE FIDELITY
The majority (84%) of the children and children-related articles recorded during the first two weeks of July 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 the authors. Such articles are credible and trusted by content consumers.
- NATURE OF QUOTES
Out of the 458 children-related articles we recorded from online publications, 441 had direct quotes, indicating journalists’ sourcing and clarity in presenting news. Two (02) articles had no quotes at all.
- USE OF VISUALS
In the articles recorded during this period, all 458 articleshadaudio–visuals (photos, videos, audio, and graphics), as shown below.
It should be noted that articles with visuals are understood much better 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 Child Protection (122) and Education (103) were the most covered issues during this period. These were followed by:
- Parenting (62)
- Child Health (42)
- Schools (36)
- Malaria (21)
- Child Death (23)
- Child Murder (18)
- Teenage Pregnancies (17)
- Defilement (13)
- Teachers (12)
- Morals (11)
- Note that some articles covered more than one issue
- ARTICLES DISTRIBUTION PER REGION
Most (189) of the articles recorded were from the Central Region, while the Eastern Region had the fewest articles at 40, 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.
Kampala (145), Luwero (8), Wakiso (12), Mukono (7), Mpigi (1), Masaka (1), Mityana (1), Bukomansimbi (5), Butambala (1), Kayunga (5), Buikwe (03)
Jinja (6), Kamuli (4), Soroti (1), Kween (1), Bukedi (3), Madi Okollo (1), Nebbi (1), Zombo (3),Mbale (6), Buyende (2), Bugiri (5), Serere (1), Iganga (2),Budaka (4)
Kikuube (11), Kasese (21), Kabarole (6), Rukungiri (1), Rwampara (2), Bushenyi (2), Isingiro (5), Kagadi (1), Kabale (5),) Rwampara (2), Kakumiro (8), Masindi (1), Mbarara (3), Kagadi (1),
Gulu (3), Katakwi (3), Terego (2), Yumbe (7), Moroto (4), Lira (4), Amuria (1), Kole (1), Kapelabyong (2), Kumi (2), Arua (3), Oyam (1), Dokolo, (1), Otuke (1), Kwania(1), Omoro (1), Kapchorwa (1), Apac (2), Adjumani (1), Moyo (1),
Kaabong (1), Amudat (1), Kotido (1), Nabilatuk (1), Nakapiripirit (1)
- 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.
During the first two weeks of July 2023, no press releases and articles were captured as published on the UNICEF Uganda website.
- UNICEF UGANDA MENTIONS
During this period, UNICEF Uganda was mentioned 25 times in 458 children-related articles in online publications. Below are links to the articles where UNICEF Uganda was mentioned during the first two weeks of July 2023:
MALARIA VACCINE
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/who-announces-18-million-malaria-jab-doses-for-uganda-11-other-african-countries-4294558 WHO announces 18 million malaria jab doses for Uganda, 11 other African country
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/18-million-doses-uganda-among-12-african-nati-164333 18 million doses: Uganda among 12 Africa countries to get first-ever malaria vaccine.
- https://www.ugandaradionetwork.net/story/uganda-among-the-first-twelve-countries-to-add-malaria-vaccine-to-routine-immunization Uganda Among the First Twelve Countries to add Malaria Vaccine to Routine Immunization
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/18-million-doses-first-ever-malaria-vaccine-allocated-12-african-countries-20232025 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF
- https://www.who.int/news/item/05-07-2023-18-million-doses-of-first-ever-malaria-vaccine-allocated-to-12-african-countries-for-2023-2025–gavi–who-and-unicef 18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF
- https://www.thecable.ng/gavi-unicef-allocate-18m-doses-of-malaria-vaccine-to-12-african-countries Gavi, UNICEF allocate 18m doses of malaria vaccine to 12 African countries
- https://www.arise.tv/who-unicef-to-administer-18-million-doses-of-malaria-vaccine-to-12-african-countries/ WHO, UNICEF To Administer 18 Million Doses Of Malaria Vaccine To 12 African Countries
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/07/1138372 More African countries to receive lifesaving malaria vaccine
- https://www.independent.co.ug/uganda-adds-malaria-vaccine-to-routine-immunization/ Uganda adds malaria vaccine to routine immunization
- https://www.dailysabah.com/life/health/who-unicef-to-deliver-18-million-malaria-vaccine-doses-to-africa WHO, UNICEF to deliver 18 million malaria vaccine doses to Africa
- https://thenationonlineng.net/nigeria-missing-from-new-list-of-malaria-vaccine-beneficiaries/ Nigeria missing from new list of malaria vaccine beneficiaries
- https://ankoletimes.co.ug/2023/07/07/uganda-receives-major-malaria-vaccines/ Uganda Receives Major Malaria Vaccines
- https://www.nationallightngr.com/2023/07/07/18m-doses-of-new-malaria-vaccine-allocated-to-12-african-countries/ 18m doses of new malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries
- https://allafrica.com/stories/202307120499.html Uganda to Get First-Ever Malaria Vaccine
- https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/kenya-among-12-countries-to-receive-malaria-vaccine-doses/ Kenya Among 12 Countries To Receive Malaria Vaccine Doses
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/uganda-to-receivemalaria-vaccine-NV_164648 Uganda to receive Malaria Vaccine
EDUCATION
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/we-must-protect-guide-our-children-in-the-digital-era-4293550 We must protect, guide our children in the digital era
- https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2023/07/school-with-over-1300-students-has-seven-classrooms.html School with over 1300 students has seven classrooms
OTHER MENTIONS
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/two-updf-soldiers-among-four-killed-by-karamoja-warriors-4291456 Two UPDF soldiers among four killed by Karamoja warriors
- https://nilepost.co.ug/2023/07/06/ubos-dismisses-claims-of-bad-relationship-with-us-government-over-implementation-of-demographic-health-survey/ UBOS dismisses claims of bad relationship with US government over implementation of demographic health survey
- https://softpower.ug/ubos-says-health-demographic-survey-not-affected-by-u-s-support-withdrawal/ UBOS says health demographic survey not affected by US support withdrawal
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/family/corporal-punishment-still-practiced-with-impu-164440 Corporal punishment still practiced with impunity, positive discipline being encouraged
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/harmonize-growth-population-with-available-resources-unicef-4301028 Harmonize growth population with available resources-UNICEF.
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/health-ministry-targeting-to-immunise-19-mill-NV_164923 Health Ministry targeting to immunise 1.9 million children.
- https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/science-health/uganda-population-expected-to-double-in-2040-unicef-says-4301258 Uganda population expected to double in 2040, Unicef says.
- COMPARATOR MENTIONS
The World Health Organization (WHO) was the most mentioned comparator in 21 articles, followed by, The Ministry of Education & Sports (MoES) 20, Ministry of Health (MOH) 15, and GAVI 17, among other comparators.
Below is a breakdown of all comparator mentions
| COMPARATOR | NUMBER OF MENTIONS |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | 21 |
| Ministry of Education & Sports (MoES) | 20 |
| Ministry of Health (MOH) | 15 |
| GAVI | 13 |
| United Nations | 9 |
| Rotary International | 5 |
| UNFPA | 5 |
| Save the Children | 6 |
| UNHCR | 2 |
| WFP | 2 |
| Action Against Hunger | 1 |
| Ministry of Gender Labour Social Development (MGLSD) | 3 |
| UWESO | 3 |
| ILO | 1 |
| Child Fund | 1 |
| World Bank | 2 |
| UN Women | 2 |
| National Children Authority | 1 |
| UWOPA | 1 |
| UNEPI | 1 |
| UNAIDS | 2 |
| CEHURD | 1 |
| UCRNN | 1 |
| Mild May | 1 |
- SOCIAL MEDIA INSIGHTS 1ST – 14TH JULY 2023
YOUTUBE
- 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 Kasese school terror attack, immunization, defilement, vaccination, education, girl child, schools, accidents, pediatrics, child malnutrition, homosexuality in schools, teaching, child murder, child health, teachers, menstrual health, menstrual hygiene, 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 July:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuq4eFzNNOQ/
[1] Articles in this category may refer to a journalistic report(s) written and presented in the context of the social safety and welfare including the security of a child. Such articles include any content that addresses issues that threaten the lives of children like physical assault, psychosocial injury and threat.
[2]This is concerned with articles and journalistic content that address the health of children in Uganda. It may also entail articles that look at the welfare of pregnant mothers or maternal health in general.
[3]Reports categorized as such may connote content published in a context of improving and addressing the issues concerning both the informal and formal education of a child, including early and progressive learning.
[4] Sentiment (also known as tonality) is used to measure how messages contained in children related articles are portrayed in the media in relation to UNICEF’s mission to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Sentiment is normally categorized as positive, neutral or negative.
[5] The measure of the publicity/exposure a brand or issue receives in a story compared to its competitors or other issues.
