Kioko Ireri

United States International University-Africa · Journalism and Corporate Communications

Content analyzing 491 photographs, the present research explores whether noninstitutional characteristics (gender, ethnic group size, and seniority) and institutional attributes (party size and political leadership) predicted newspapers’ pictorial coverage of 349 Kenyan members of Parliament (MPs) between 2013 and 2017. Findings indicate that polit...

Nations across Africa have seen substantial growth in technological advancements, including Internet and cell phone access. This growth has been unevenly experienced and has come with some unintended consequences, including the spread of mis- and disinformation. Previous research suggests that misinformation and disinformation are growing problems...

This research content analyzes 2,794 news articles in four leading newspapers to compare variables that predicted the coverage of Kenya governors and senators between 2013 and 2017—within the theoretical perspectives of coverage based on “news values” and “mirror of political reality.” Findings show the strongest predictors for governors’ coverage...

Content-analysing 2794 news stories in four national newspapers, the present study examines variables that predicted the coverage of 47 county governors between 2013 and 2017—the first term of Kenya’s devolved system of governance. Findings show that variables related to coverage as a “mirror of political reality” are the main predictors of the gov...

The present research examines how the 2011 Libyan Revolution was visually framed on Al-Jazeera English and BBC news sites. Using images embedded in the news links of the two sites, the study investigates the prevalence of five visual frames: people, weaponry type, weaponry ownership, destruction, and “other.” The visual content analysis of 250 phot...

While research on misinformation in Africa has increased in recent years, and despite a growing body of theoretical and empirical work that considers the role of governments, platforms, and users in stopping misinformation globally, there is still a lack of empirical research addressing ways to curb its spread on the continent. Research has coalesc...

the chapter covers governance and development in Nyanza before devolution and after by interrogating development gains, challenges and prospects

This chapter explores the first five years of the devolved governance (2013-2017) in the Eastern region comprising eight counties -- Marsabit, Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni. It captures politics, administration, development, and challenges that characterized the first five years of devolution in the eight counties....

The present research examines the coverage of 349 Kenyan politicians in four English national newspapers between 2013 and 2017. Within the contexts of media coverage based on news values, and reporting as a mirror of political reality, the study investigates whether gender, tribe, party size, seniority, committee or party leadership, commenting on...

This frame analysis research examines the coverage of Kenyan oil exploration by two national English newspapers from 2012 to 2016. Specifically, the study investigates the prevalence of seven media frames—namely attribution of responsibility, conflict, economic consequences, energy policies, energy security, human interest and environmental concern...

National in scope (n=3116), this research explores the consumption of social media in Kenya in 2019. Findings show that the most popular social media platforms were WhatsApp (88.6%), Facebook (88.5%), and YouTube (51.2%). The leading motivations for using the social platforms are -- acquisition of information (31.0%), entertainment (28.0%), and soc...

The current exploratory survey examines the knowledge gap hypothesis in the context of Kenya (n=1,000). Using education as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES), the study explores the overall knowledge on public affairs among people in Nairobi, Kenya's capital. Also, in line with the knowledge gap hypothesis, the study investigates whether Ke...

Founded on framing theory in communication, the current research examines the media coverage of two major terror attacks in Kenya – the Westgate Shopping Mall and Garissa University College in which 200 people perished. Using quantitative content analysis, the study explores four things in the coverage of the two terror attacks by three Kenyan nati...

This chapter examines the prevalence of corruption in the Kenyan media and its implications for the practice of journalism in this Eastern Africa nation. It explores five important aspects of corruption among journalists: (a) their perception of how common corruption is in local media; (b) major sources of an orientation toward corruption among jou...

The present research examines media agenda setting effects in a Kenyan context in 2013 and 2014. Specifically, focusing on the first level of agenda setting, the study investigates whether two national daily newspapers influenced public opinion on six issues of national importance: corruption, devolution, economic crisis, insecurity, poverty, and u...

National in scope, this survey of Kenyan journalists conducted in 2012–2013 (n = 504) examines job autonomy in news selection decisions, media freedom and predictors of journalistic autonomy. The research also investigates the relationship between Kenya’s media freedom and journalistic autonomy. Findings show that over half (59%) of respondents bel...

Conducted in 2012 to 2013, the current national survey of Kenyan journalists (N = 504) examines major characteristics of journalism and mass communication training in Kenya. Findings show that training in journalism or mass communication is a prerequisite to practice as a journalist in Kenya. While 45% of journalists were trained at the level of as...

This national survey conducted in 2012–2013 (N = 504) examines demographic characteristics of the Kenyan journalists. Findings indicate that the typical Kenyan journalist is male (66%), married (57%), and in his mid-30s (M = 34 years). He tends to have a Bachelor’s degree (46%) and has received college-level training in journalism or communication...

This was a national survey conducted in 2012–2013 (N = 504) that examined the prevalence of corruption in journalism practice in Kenya. Findings show that a majority of respondents (74%) believe that corruption is rife in Kenyan media. Nearly 46% of Kenyan journalists learned the art of corruption through the source–journalist relationship, followe...

The professional role conceptions of journalists have for many years remained a central strand in journalism studies. The present research investigates the professional role conceptions that Kenyan journalists perceive to be the most important in their work. Similarly, the professional role they consider the most important is further analyzed in re...

This Kenya national survey of journalists conducted in 2012 to 2013 (n = 504) examines job satisfaction, income satisfaction, and predictors of job satisfaction. Findings indicate that the vast majority of journalists are satisfied with their current jobs (83%). However, a clear majority (61.8%) are dissatisfied with their monthly incomes. Nearly a...

Though Barack Obama was the first African American presidential nominee for a major party in the history of the US presidential election, his multiracial identity put him under intense scrutiny during the 2008 election – more than any other previous black aspirants for the White House. Using quantitative content analysis of election stories in the...

This research investigates the prevalence of five media frames in op-ed articles published in Kenya's Sunday Nation newspaper: attribution of responsibility, conflict, economic consequences, human interest and international interest. Through the lens of the attribution of responsibility frame, the study examines who, between President Mwai Kibaki a...

This research investigates variables that predicted news coverage of 212 members of parliament (MPs) in Kenya by four national newspapers in 2009. The 10 variables examined are: ordinary MP, cabinet minister, powerful ministry, parliamentary committee chairmanship, seniority, big tribe identity, major party affiliation, presidential ambition, comme...

References to "international community" have surged in the news. This study investigates how American journalists portray international community in their coverage. We assume that the phrase, while laden with possible meanings, is more than jargon. A growing number of global issues and crises require the kind of transnational cooperation that inter...