ABSTRACT
The researcher was interested in investigating on the print media and changing of voting
behavior of electorates in Uganda. The research was guided by objectives which were intended
to; examine the role of print media coverage on shaping the voting behaviors of electorates in
Uganda, find out the challenges encountered by print media coverage in shaping the voting
behaviors of electorates in Uganda and establish the strategies devised to overcome the
challenges faced in shaping the voting behaviors of electorates in Uganda. The literatuure was
reiewed inline with the research objectives above and it was obtained from books, internet,
journals and publications of previous researchers.The research design was cross-sectional
descriptive and gender-based where by both male and female respondents were considered and
from the target population of 120 only 80 respondents were considered for this study. Majority of
the respondents were male and their highest level of education was masters. The findings of the
researcher made him conclude that print media play significant role in shaping the behaviors of
electorates in Uganda. Print media should therefore be left to present as much information on
elections as they can to the voters in general since failure to do so may lead to low turn up or
making of wrong choices, which affects the country’s development. It an important task for the
print media to monitor political life and to draw the attention of voters to how politicians are
fulfilling their responsibilities to society so that those who cannot meet the voter’s expectations
can be left out. This is because print media act as the channel through which political
communication takes place by presenting the opinion leaders and politicians to engage in debates
in their drawing rooms. Newspapers must also allow the myriad opinions from citizens sent into
the newsroom to make their way in the news without segregation. The recommendations were
made to print media so as to be fair in allocating the parties equal amount of space to express
their views. Journalists should very well scrutinize the conduct and rhetoric of the politicians and
a strong, intensive, effective and independent press effectively does. The government and
politicians in particular should be watched when they abuse their powers, exceed their mandates,
commit blunders they would prefer to conceal, and elevate themselves to positions of non
accountable authority. Such information must be released to the public through media and others
were for NGOs to advocate for the rights of journalists. Due to time and resources contraints,
areas for further research were also indicated.
x
Based on the regional elevel, a democratic society relies upon voter decision to elect
representatives and upon mass media communication networks to inform the electorate
especially news papers play a vital role Pavia (2006). The countries which were able to establish
good tradition of party politics democracy was able to survive and gain grater strength. The news
papers enable the state and its leaders to reach people even the remote corners of the country
Becker, F. (2002). However the powerful medial concept was shaken by1940 study of voters and
voting behavior in Eric Count, Ohio. Instead of swaying voters and marshalling change, the press
was seen as more of reinforcing influence. Scholars began to doubt influence of i:he media as
change agents in communication.
Sub saharn region, journalism is seen as an important constitutive element of public life and
media institutions like any other are governed by traditions and dynamics of their own. But in the
broader public life, news papers institutions do not define politics any more than political
structures fully determine the news; there is an ongoing interaction (Curran et al, 2000). It is
these interactions between the political players and media that one needs to engage with, to try
and look at the boundaries both institutions have with each other as power instruments. Curran
notes that at its best, the mediatization of politics is one in which journalism is capable of
standing as spokesperson for civil society, challenging political arrogance and political roguery.
In all developed and developing countries, press for long has had constant relations with politics.
(Kasoma 2000) renders the Uganda’s press as having been a political press and operating as a
political tool from the onset. He notes that politicians particularly those in government, have
necessarily, always been involved in and with the press, legally and extra legally. That their
involvement was in ordering journalists to do this and do that, complaining about acts or
omissions by journalists and the press, warning journalists and the press to report on what those
in government are saying, even if it does not conform to what they are doing or not doing.
Indeed, it is difficult to picture the African press without its hallmark of overemphasis on
politics. Politicians have courted the press and when the reports seemed unfavorable to them,
they turned against the same institution they need. Kasoma also notes that the press is shrouded
in controversy arising out of its nature as a campaign press. The news papers have been used as a political campaign tool to mop up party support of the ruling party.
NOAH, T (2021). Print Media Coverage And Voting Behaviors Of Electorates In Uganda. A Case Study Of Daily Monitor.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/print-media-coverage-and-voting-behaviors-of-electorates-in-uganda-a-case-study-of-daily-monitor
NOAH, TINAKO "Print Media Coverage And Voting Behaviors Of Electorates In Uganda. A Case Study Of Daily Monitor." Afribary. Afribary, 11 Jun. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/print-media-coverage-and-voting-behaviors-of-electorates-in-uganda-a-case-study-of-daily-monitor. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
NOAH, TINAKO . "Print Media Coverage And Voting Behaviors Of Electorates In Uganda. A Case Study Of Daily Monitor.". Afribary, Afribary, 11 Jun. 2021. Web. 15 Nov. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/print-media-coverage-and-voting-behaviors-of-electorates-in-uganda-a-case-study-of-daily-monitor >.
NOAH, TINAKO . "Print Media Coverage And Voting Behaviors Of Electorates In Uganda. A Case Study Of Daily Monitor." Afribary (2021). Accessed November 15, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/print-media-coverage-and-voting-behaviors-of-electorates-in-uganda-a-case-study-of-daily-monitor