Prepared by
OVERVIEW
This report presents findings from the analysis of the coverage of children-related issues in Uganda for the period 1st – 14th March 2024 by various online media platforms. The main method used for analysis was content analysis.
Overall, the analyzed data results show that 484 articles were published online on children and children-related issues in Uganda, indicating a decrease of 129 articles from those published during the last two weeks of February 2024.
Two hundred forty-five (245) articles focused on keeping children Learning[1], 122 on keeping children alive[2], and 117 were on keeping children Safe[3].
BI-WEEKLY ANALYSIS OF EDITORIAL AND JOURNALISTIC REPORTING TRENDS BY ONLINE PUBLICATIONS ON CHILDREN IN UGANDA (MARCH 1ST 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 first two weeks of March 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 484 articles from online publications reporting children and children-related issues in Uganda during the first two weeks of March 2024 (1st – 14th), indicating a decrease of 129 articles from those recorded during the last two weeks of February 2024. Below is a table showing a breakdown by publication and category.
- CATEGORIES
Two hundred forty-five (245) articles were centered on keeping children Learning
Issues related to Keeping Children alive were reported in 122 articles. Articles on Keeping Children safe were in 117 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, 65 articles had no authors specified.
SENTIMENT
We found that 57% of the articles on children and children related issues published online during the first two weeks of March 2024 had a Positive sentiment[4]. Children-related articles with neutral sentiment were the least in number.
Positive (279) Negative (153) Neutral (70)
Out of the 153 children-related articles we recorded having a negative sentiment, none mentioned UNICEF.
- SHARE OF VOICE
The majority (56%) of the articles recorded during the first two weeks of March 2024 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 March 2024
- MESSAGE FIDELITY
The majority (84%) of the children and children-related articles recorded during the first two weeks of March 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 484 children-related articles we recorded from online publications, 363 had direct quotes, indicating journalists’ sourcing and clarity in presenting news.
- USE OF VISUALS
In the articles recorded during this period, all 484 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 topic of examinations was the most covered (105 times) during this period. This was followed by:
| 84 | UACE | ||
| 71 | Education | ||
| 44 | Schools | ||
| 40 | Child health | ||
| 24 | Child protection | ||
| 17 | WASH | ||
| 14 | PLE | ||
| 13 | Sports | ||
| 13 | Maternal health | ||
| 11 | Child kidnap | ||
| 11 | Child death | ||
| 11 | HIV/AIDS | ||
| 10 | Defilement | ||
- 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.
Wakiso (19), Sembabule (1), Rakai (2), Mukono (4), Mubende (4), Mpigi (6), Mityana (2), Masaka (1), Lwengo (2), Luweero (10), Kayunga (1), Kassanda (2), Buvuma (1), Bukomansimbi (1), Buikwe (1)
Soroti (1), 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 (1), 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. Two (02) articles were published during the first two weeks of March 2024.
| Story link & title | Search Engine Optimization (SEO)[6] | Comments | |
| 1. | https://www.unicef.org/uganda/stories/unicef-iceland-commission-water-facility-northern-uganda UNICEF, Iceland commission water facility in northern Uganda | 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/having-access-clean-water-helps-me-concentrate-school Having access to clean water helps me concentrate in school. | 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 six (06) times in 484 children andchildren-related articles in online publications. Below are links to the articles where UNICEF Uganda was mentioned.
- https://www.africa.com/africa-cdc-and-united-nations-childrens-fund-unicef-expand-partnership-to-strengthen-health-systems-and-immunization-of-children-in-africa/ Africa CDC and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Expand Partnership to Strengthen Health Systems and Immunization of Children in Africa
- https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/world-news/more-than-230m-fgm-survivors-worldwide-unicef.html More than 230m FGM survivors worldwide: UNICEF
- https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/341288/unicef-over-230m-female-genital-mutilation Unicef: Over 230m female genital mutilation survivors worldwide
- https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/health/cut-price-malaria-vaccine-to-begin-africa-rol-NV_183166 Cut-price malaria vaccine to begin Africa rollout from May
- https://redpepper.co.ug/report-reveals-why-elite-ugandan-women-are-producing-fewer-children/134105/ Report reveals why elite Ugandan women are producing fewer children
- https://pesacheck.org/hoax-unicef-is-not-running-this-cash-promotion-in-uganda-484bbd4896d7 HOAX: UNICEF is not running this cash promotion in Uganda
- COMPARATOR MENTIONS
The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) was the most mentioned comparator in 83 stories, followed by the Ministry of Health with 14, among other comparators.
Below is a breakdown of all comparator mentions
| 83 | MOES | |
| 14 | MOH | |
| 3 | UNHCR | |
| 2 | WFP | |
| 2 | USAID | |
| 2 | UNFPA | |
| 1 | JICA | |
| 1 | ICESCO | |
| 1 | IRC | |
| 1 | UN | |
| 1 | BRAC- Uganda | |
| 1 | Norwegian Refugee Council | |
| 1 | NUDIPU | |
| 1 | FAO | |
| 1 | Rotary International | |
| 1 | National Children Authority | |
3. SOCIAL MEDIA INSIGHTS 1st – 14th MARCH 2024
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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, Urban TV and Daily Monitor posted the most on children. Posting was mainly on aspects of, UACE results and performance analysis, measles and red eye outbreak, water scarcity, seed schools, Child-murder, maternal mortality, child-death, child-torture, immunization, education, schools, 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 first two weeks of March 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/nbstelevision/videos/1104009020722957/
[1] 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.
[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] 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.
[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.
