                        PREPARED BY                      
OVERVIEW
This report presents findings from the analysis of the coverage of children-related issues in Uganda for the period 15st-28th April 2024 by various online media platforms. The main method used for analysis was content analysis.
Overall, the analyzed data results show that 331 articles were published online on children and children-related issues in Uganda, indicating a decrease of 72 articles from those published during the first two weeks of April 2024.
One hundred fourteen (114) articles focused on keeping children Learning, 110 on keeping children alive, and 107 were on keeping children Safe.
BI-WEEKLY ANALYSIS OF EDITORIAL AND JOURNALISTIC REPORTING TRENDS BY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON CHILDREN IN UGANDA (APRIL 15TH – 28TH 2024)
- 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 April 2024.
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 331 articles from online publications reporting children and children-related issues in Uganda during the last two weeks of April 2024 (15th – 28th), indicating a decrease of 72 articles from those recorded during the first two weeks of April 2024. Below is a table showing a breakdown by publication and category.
- CATEGORIESÂ Â
One hundred fourteen (114) articles were centered on keeping children learning
Issues related to keeping children alive were reported in 110 articles. Articles on keeping children safe were in 107 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, 48 articles had no authors specified.Â
SENTIMENT
We found that 42% of the articles on children and children related issues published online during the last two weeks of April 2024 had a negative sentiment. Children-related articles with neutral sentiment were the least in number.
Out of the 142 children-related articles we recorded having a negative sentiment, two (02) mentioned UNICEF. The mentions are in the articles below:
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/uganda-faces-scrutiny-over-child-labour-viola-NV_186014#google_vignette Uganda faces scrutiny over child labour Violations-ILO expert
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-92toQmmw UGANDA RANKED 7TH IN HIGH CRIME RATES: COLLECTIVE EFFORTS NEEDED TO CURB ORGANISED CRIME
- SHARE OF VOICE
The majority (55%) of the articles recorded during the last two weeks of April 2024 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 15th – 28th April 2024
- MESSAGE FIDELITY
The majority (70%) of the children and children-related articles recorded during the last two weeks of April 2024 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 331 children-related articles we recorded from online publications, 300 had direct quotes, indicating journalists’ sourcing and clarity in presenting news.
- USE OF VISUALS
In the articles recorded during this period, all 331 articles had audio–visuals (photos, videos, audio, and graphics), as shown below.Â
81- Videos 21– Photo & Audio 214 – Photos 10 – Photo & Video 05 Graphic
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 topic of education was the most covered (115 times) during this period. This was followed by:
| 81 | Schools | ||
| 45 | Child death | ||
| 41 | WASH | ||
| 40 | Child health | ||
| 27 | Teachers | ||
| 26 | Child protection | ||
| 23 | School fires | ||
| 16 | Girl child | ||
| 16 | UCE | ||
| 14 | Redeye outbreak | ||
- Note that some stories covered more than one issue.
- STORY DISTRIBUTION PER REGION
Most (150) of the stories recorded were from the Central region while the Eastern region had the least stories at 44 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.
From the figure above, Kampala District had the highest coverage with 90 stories.Â
Wakiso (19), Sembabule (1), Rakai (2), Mukono (4), Mubende (4), Mpigi (6), Mityana (2), Masaka (4), Lwengo (2), Luweero (10), Kayunga (1), Kassanda (2), Buvuma (1), Bukomansimbi (1), Buikwe (1)Â
Soroti (2), Tororo (1), Sironko (1), Serere (2), Namutumba (1), Mbale (5), Mayuge (13), Kibuku (2), Katakwi (1), Kasese (4), Kamuli (1), Kaliro (1), Jinja (3), Iganga (1), Buyende (1), Busia (3), Bugweri (3), Budaka (1), Bugembe (1)
Rukungiri (7), Rukiga (1), Rubanda (8), Ntungamo (6), Mbarara (8), Masindi (2), Kyegegwa (2), Kitagwenda (2), Kisoro (1), Kiryandongo (2), Kiruhura (1), Kikuube (3), Kamwenge (2), Kakumiro (2), Kagadi (1), Kabarole (1), Kabale (5), Isingiro (1), Ibanda (2), Hoima (6), Bushenyi (2), Bundibugyo (3), Ntoroko (1), Buliisa (9)
Zombo (5), Yumbe (3), Terergo (2), Pakwach (4), Pader (2), Obongi (1), Abim (2), Nwoya (9), Nebbi (6), Napak (1), Nakapiripirit (1), Moroto (1), Adjumani (1), Madi-Okollo (1), Lira (2), Lamwo (2), Kotido (4), Koboko (3), Kitgum (3), Kaabong (2), Gulu (4), Arua (12), Apac (3), Agago (1), Amuru (1), Amudat (1), Amolatar (2), Maracha (6
- 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. You published two (02) articles during the last two weeks of April 2024.
| Story link & title | Search Engine Optimization (SEO) | Comments | |
1. | https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/families-forward-impact-girlsempoweringgirls Families Forward: Impact of GirlsEmpoweringGirls | PhotosGood use of keywordsLinks | Outbound 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/embracing-early-childhood-development-using-mobile-tricycle-innovation-terego-district Embracing Early Childhood Development using mobile tricycle innovation in Terego District, Uganda | PhotosGood use of keywords | Outbound 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 10 times in 331 children and children-related articles in online publications. Below are links to the articles where UNICEF Uganda was mentioned.
- https://www.observer.ug/index.php/news/headlines/81091-2-million-visually-impaired-ugandans-to-navigate-budget-guide-in-braille 2 million visually impaired Ugandans to navigate budget guide in braille
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/uganda-faces-scrutiny-over-child-labour-viola-NV_186014#google_vignette Uganda faces scrutiny over child labour Violations-ILO expert
- https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/gavi-and-unicef-welcome-approval-new-oral-cholera-vaccine Gavi and UNICEF welcome approval of new oral cholera vaccine
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/news/dpp-urges-prosecutors-to-uphold-integrity-NV_186458#google_vignette DPP urges prosecutors to uphold integrity
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV-92toQmmw UGANDA RANKED 7TH IN HIGH CRIME RATES: COLLECTIVE EFFORTS NEEDED TO CURB ORGANISED CRIME
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSAfqTghy9c Uganda flagged for organized crime concerns
- https://nilepost.co.ug/news/197116/uganda-to-introduce-national-children-play-day Uganda to introduce national children play day.
- https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/who-says-immunization-saved-50-million-lives-in-africa-Â WHO says Immunization Saved 50 million Lives In Africa
- https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/other/govt-roots-for-life-skills-devt-to-combat-youth-unemployment/ar-AA1nIa0RÂ Govt roots for life skills devt to combat youth unemployment
- https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-roots-for-life-skills-devt-combat-youth-unemployment-4603988Â Govt roots for life skills devt to combat youth unemployment
- COMPARATOR MENTIONS
The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) was the most mentioned comparator in 13 stories, followed by the World Health Organization with 6, among other comparators.
Below is a breakdown of all comparator mentions
| 13 | MOES |
| 7 | WHO |
| 6 | MOH |
| 7 | Rotary International |
| 4 | UNFPA |
| 2 | UNOPS |
| 1 | FAO |
| 1 | EU |
| 1 | WFP |
| 1 | USAID |
| 1 | UNAIDS |
- SOCIAL MEDIA INSIGHTS 15TH – 28TH 2024
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YOUTUBE
- SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDSÂ
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, red-eyes pandemic, climate-change, WASH, pregnant-mothers, child-safety, defilement, teachers, schools, Child-murder, maternal mortality, child-death, education, child health, 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 April 2024:
