A pair of studies by AKU’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) in Nairobi aims to help East Africa’s news media navigate the changes brought by the internet, mobile phones and social media.
While the rise of digital media has wreaked havoc on older news organisations in many countries, the situation in East Africa has been less dire. For example, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyan newspaper revenues had been growing modestly, and Kenya was one of just four countries in the world where newspaper revenues were expected to continue increasing over the next five years, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Moreover, trust in news organisations in Kenya remains high by global standards.
Nevertheless, change is happening, and rapidly. Since 2014, radio’s audience share in Kenya has plunged, although it remains the number one news source, according to a report by Reelforge and TIFA Research. Meanwhile, with internet subscriptions having nearly tripled in five years, the percentage of people who get their news online via their mobile phones has greatly increased.
GSMC’s State of the Media Report aims to be the most detailed publication of its kind, providing information on news organisations’ audiences, finances and influence; professional and industry organisations; the legal and regulatory framework in which the media operates; the education and training of media professionals; and notable developments.
It will initially cover Kenya, but will eventually expand to cover neighbouring countries. The School’s Innovation for Media Viability Study will deliver insights that East African media organisations can use as they seek to achieve commercial success and deliver high-quality content in the digital age.
Researchers will conduct an online survey of journalists and executives at nearly 450 news organisations, as well as follow-up interviews. They will collect information on everything from the political challenges facing media outlets to examples of successful innovation with the potential for wider adoption.
Both projects are funded by KfW, the German development bank. The media viability study is being conducted in partnership with DW Akademie, the international media development division of Deutsche Welle, Germany’s public international news agency.