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By Benard Kakuru
Bi-weekly Report 15th - 28th November 2023

PREPARED BY

BACK TO UNICEF UGANDA DASHBOARD

OVERVIEW

This report presents findings from the analysis of the coverage of children-related issues in Uganda for the period 15th – 28th November 2023 by various online media platforms. The main method used for analysis was content analysis.     

Overall, the analyzed data results show that 480 articles were published online on children and children-related issues in Uganda, indicating an increase of 02 articles from those published during the first two weeks of November 2023. 

One hundred eighty-five (185) articles focused on keeping children Safe[1], 148 on keeping children Learning[2], and 147 were on keeping children Alive[3].

BI-WEEKLY ANALYSIS OF EDITORIAL AND JOURNALISTIC REPORTING TRENDS BY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON CHILDREN IN UGANDA (NOVEMBER 15th – 28th 2023)
  1. INTRODUCTION

Ultimate Multimedia Consult (UMC) is required to present to UNICEF Uganda every two weeks an analysis of editorial and journalistic reporting trends on children and children-related issues in Uganda as published on online platforms. This report presents findings on how online publications covered children-related issues for the last two weeks of November 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 analysed 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 BBS Terefayina, NTV Uganda, 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 480 articles from online publications reporting children and children-related issues in Uganda during the first weeks of November 2023 (15th – 28th), indicating an increase of 02 articles from those recorded during the first two weeks of November 2023. Below is a table showing a breakdown by publication and category.

Publication Website URLKeeping children AliveKeeping Children SafeKeeping Children LearningTotal No. of articles
NTV Ugandahttps://www.ntv.co.ug/ug 28         262276
The New Visionhttps://www.newvision.co.ug21          401475
Daily Monitorhttps://www.monitor.co.ug24231966
Bukeddehttps://www.bukedde.co.ug7211240
Uganda Radio Networkhttps://ugandaradionetwork.net8141335
UBC TVhttps://ubc.go.ug/13101134
Nile Posthttps://nilepost.co.ug451121
East Newshttps://eastnews.co.ug56617
Urban TVhttps://www.youtube.com/@urbantv_ug/videos72413
Salt Mediahttps://www.youtube.com/@saltmediauganda/videos55212
The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.ug2          3611
Ankole Timeshttps://ankoletimes.co.ug/42511
Chimp Reportshttps://chimpreports.com35210
BBS Terefayinahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQaMcZZMj6A1449
Capital Radiohttps://capitalradio.co.ug/3418
KFMhttps://www.kfm.co.ug2327
PML Dailyhttps://www.pmldaily.com/2226
The Observerhttps://www.observer.ug2125
Delta TVhttps://www.youtube.com/@DELTATVTUKOLE/videos0235
Watchdoghttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/1023
All Africahttps://allafrica.com0112
Pulse newshttps://plusnews.ug/2002
PeaceCorpshttps://www.peacecorps.gov/0011
Relief Webhttps://reliefweb.int/1001
FG https://famagusta-gazette.com/0101
Kigezi Timeshttps://www.kigezitimes.com/0101
Kyaggwa TVhttps://kyaggwetv.com/0011
Africa.comhttps://www.africa.com/0011
Garowe Onlinehttps://www.garoweonline.com/0101
The explorerhttps://explorer.co.ug0101
The Informerhttps://www.informer.co.ug/0011
UG Musichttps://ugamusic.ug/0101
Pearl FMhttps://pearlfmuganda.com/0101
Eagle onlinehttps://eagle.co.ug/1001
Daily Expresshttps://dailyexpress.co.ug1001
TOTAL 147185148480
  • CATEGORIES 

One hundred eighty-five (185) articles were centered on Keeping Children Learning. 

Issues related to Keeping Children Alive were reported in 147 articles. Articles on Keeping Children Safe were in 148 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, 28 articles had no authors specified.

SENTIMENT

We found that 39% of the articles on children and children related issues published online during the last two weeks of November 2023 had a negative sentiment[4]. Children-related articles with neutral sentiment were the least in number.

Positive (180)                        Negative (185)                   Neutral (115) 

Out of the 185 children-related articles we recorded having a negative sentiment, one (01) articlementioned UNICEF. The mention was in the article below.

  1. https://hejnu.ug/effects-of-climate-events-on-maternal-child-health-neglected-un/ EFFECTS OF CLIMATE EVENTS ON MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH NEGLECTED, UN
  • SHARE OF VOICE

The majority (50%) of the articles recorded during the last two weeks of November 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 15th – 28th November 2023

  • MESSAGE FIDELITY

The majority (73%) of the children and children-related articles recorded during the last two weeks of November 2023 had high message fidelity. This implies that the messages were laid out 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 480 children-related articles we recorded from online publications, 401 had direct quotes, indicating journalists’ sourcing and clarity in presenting news.

  • USE OF VISUALS

In the articles recorded during this period, all 480 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 stories captured, we noted that the issue of child health was the most covered (93 times) during this period. This was followed by:

  • Schools (48)
  • Education (40)
  • HIV/AIDS (35)
  • Child protection (31)
  • Examinations (28)
  • Child death (27)
  • Parenting (22)
  • Gender Based Violence (21)
  • Defilement (17)
  • Maternal health  (15)
  • Refugee children (15)
  • Sickle Cell (11)
  • Teenage pregnancy (10)
  • Parenting (11)
  • WASH, Food and Nutrition (10)


Note that some stories covered more than one issue.

  • STORY DISTRIBUTION PER REGION

Most (351) of the stories recorded were from the Central region while the Western region had the least stories at 72 as represented on the graph above.        

While some stories 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 (185), Wakiso (37), Sembabule (3), Nakaseke (3), Mukono (18), Mubende (15), Mpigi       (3), Mityana (5), Masaka (8), Lyantonde (4), Kyotera (8), Kiboga (1), Kayunga (1), Kassanda (41), Buvuma (5), Butambala (4), Bukomansimbi (7), Buikwe (3)

Tororo (5), Soroti  (7), Sironko (2), Serere (1), Pallisa (1), Pakwach (3), Namisindwa (2), Mbale (15), Mayuge        (3), Luuka   (2), Kwania  (3), Kumi (1), Kibuku (1), Katakwi (1), Kapchorwa (2), Kakumiro (15), Jinja (17), Iganga (4), Buyende (2), Butaleja (5), Busia (2), Bulambuli (2), Bududa (6), Budaka (1), Amuria (1)

Rukungiri (6), Ntungamo (1), Ntoroko (1), Mbarara (7), Kyegegwa (8), Kitagwenda       (2), Kisoro (9), Kikuube (4), Kibaale (1), Kasese (1), Kanungu (3), Kamwenge (3), Kagadi (6), Kabarole (5), Hoima (5), Bunyangabu (5), Bundibugyo         (3), Kyenjojo (2)

Zombo (2), Yumbe (3), Pader (1), Oyam (3), Otuke (4), Nwoya        (2), Napak (1), Nebbi     (1), Moroto (1), Lira (16), Lamwo (4), Kitgum (7), Kaabong (6), Gulu (11), Dokolo (5), Arua (8), Apac (4), Amuru (2), Amolatar (4), Alebtong (7), Agago (1), Kole (4)

  • 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 last two weeks of November 2023, two (02) articles were published on the UNICEF Uganda website.

Story link & titleSearch Engine Optimization (SEO)[6]Comments
  1.                        https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/marcyline-finds-hope-through-spotlight-initiative  Marcyline finds hope through the Spotlight Initiative  PhotosGood use of keywordsLinksOutbound and inbound links on keywords and characters in your articles can make them stand out in Google searches. Keywords can also be included as tags.Headlines can also be made keyword-rich to make articles more searchable and attract readers’ attention.Exploit other visuals like graphics and animations whenever possible. Multimedia articles are not only easy to understand but also stand out in online searches.Use of block quotes, bolding key phrases and putting some parts of the article in list form makes it scannable and easy to read
2.  https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/empoweru-cash-transforms-lives-lamwo-districts-agoro-hills  EmpowerU Cash+ transforms lives in Lamwo District’s agoro hillsPhotosGood use of keywordsLinksOutbound and inbound links on keywords and characters in your articles can make them stand out in Google searches. Keywords can also be included as tags.Headlines can also be made keyword-rich to make articles more searchable and attract readers’ attention.Exploit other visuals like graphics and animations whenever possible. Multimedia articles are not only easy to understand but also stand out in online searches.Use of block quotes, bolding key phrases and putting some parts of the article in list form makes it scannable and easy to read
  • UNICEF UGANDA MENTIONS

During this period, UNICEF Uganda was mentioned 12 times in 480 children andchildren-related articles in online publications. Below are links to the articles where UNICEF Uganda was mentioned.

WASH

  1. https://plusnews.ug/solar-powered-water-stations-bring-renewed-hope-for-sanitation-health-in-kasanda/  Solar powered water stations bring renewed hope for sanitation health in Kasanda
  2. https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/solar-powered-water-stations-bring-renewed-hope-for-sanitation-and-health-in-kasanda-post-ebola-outbreak- Solar Powered Water Stations Bring Renewed Hope for Sanitation, Health in Kasanda
  3. https://capitalradio.co.ug/news/2023-11-23-unicef-donates-solar-powered-water-supply-to-health-care-facilities-in-kasanda-district/ UNICEF Donates Solar-Powered Water Supply to Health Care Facilities in Kasanda District
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1x6XYZKgA Leaders move to enforce hygiene in homes
  5. https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/amawulire/ekizibu-kyebbula-lya-mazzi-abe-kassanda-bakifBUK_143472 Ekizibu ky’ebbula lya mazzi ab’e Kassanda bakifuuye mu ng’ombe!
  6. https://www.bukedde.co.ug/amawulire/BUK_143472/ekizibu-kyebbula-lya-mazzi-abe-kassanda-bakif Ekizibu ky’ebbula lya mazzi ab’e Kassanda bakifuuye mu ng’ombe!
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBS0wxXgPwE Water & sanitation – 7 health centres in Kasanda get solar water supply

MALARIA IMMUNIZATION

OTHER

  1. https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/do-more-to-protect-rights-of-children-4439496 Do more to protect rights of children
  2. https://www.peacecorps.gov/uganda/stories/empowering-youth-in-uganda-through-startup/ Empowering Youth in Uganda through StartUp!
  3. https://hejnu.ug/effects-of-climate-events-on-maternal-child-health-neglected-un/ EFFECTS OF CLIMATE EVENTS ON MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH NEGLECTED, UN
  • COMPARATOR MENTIONS

The Ministry of Health (MoH) was the most mentioned comparator in 41 stories, followed by the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development with 14, WHO with 8 mentions, among other comparators.

Below is a breakdown of all comparator mentions

  COMPARATOR  NUMBER OF MENTIONS
Ministry of Health (MoH)41
MGLSD14
Ministry of Education & Sports (MoES)3
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)4
Rotary International4
World Health Organization (WHO)8
United Nations`6
Uganda Cross Society Red6
International Labor Organization (ILO)4
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)  4
World Food Program (WFP)3
UK Aid4
USAID                  1      
PEPFAR1
Action Aid1
Plan International1
Windle International1
GIZ1
World Bank1

3. SOCIAL MEDIA INSIGHTS 15TH – 28TH NOVEMBER 2023

FACEBOOK

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INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

  • 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, Urban TV and Daily Monitor posted the most on children. Posting was mainly on aspects of, school fires, defilement, child-mothers, PLE, UCE & UACE examinations, GBV, climate change & floods, HIV/AIDS, children’s day, child-torture, immunization, education, girl child, schools, child malnutrition, teaching, child murder, child health, teachers, menstrual hygiene, teenage pregnancy and other sex-related offences against children, reproductive health, maternal and neonatal health, child protection, parenting violence against children, among others. Below are snippets from and links to the posts captured from social media in the last two weeks of November:

https://www.facebook.com/DailyMonitor/posts/736145671876811

https://www.facebook.com/thenewvision/posts/733910158780829

https://www.facebook.com/thenewvision/posts/733814522123726

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/756197899884130

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/755858429918077

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/755853549918565

https://www.facebook.com/thenewvision/posts/737272118444633

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/760338782803375

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/760271016143485

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/760266659477254

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/759897219514198

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/765070085657820

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/765066215658207

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/765013422330153

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/764845022346993

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/764842502347245

https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/posts/764840909014071

https://www.facebook.com/thenewvision/posts/739505788221266

https://twitter.com/ntvuganda/status/1728496309613560221\

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/761249266045660

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/757999316370655

https://www.facebook.com/NTVUganda/posts/757855396385047

https://www.facebook.com/thenewvision/posts/737938628377982

[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]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.

[3] 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.

[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.

[6] Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving the content on your website to increase its visibility for relevant searches online.

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