Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Mass Communication and Media Arts
Advisor
Karan Kavita
Abstract
This study analyzed the content of two newspapers, namely the government owned New Vision and the privately owned Daily Monitor for their coverage of the 2011 presidential elections. A total sample size of 499 news articles was analyzed for coverage, structural and selection biases. The results indicated that although the presidential race involved eight candidates, the incumbent Yoweri Museveni received more coverage in both newspapers than other candidates. He was followed by his main challenge Kiiza Besigye. Third party candidates received minimal coverage from both newspapers. The New Vision was also found to have given more favorable coverage to the Museveni than other contenders. On the other hand Daily Monitor was also found to have provided more favorable coverage to opposition candidates than Museveni, reinforcing the literature of how media partisanship influences election coverage. Lastly, although New Vision carried more articles about the election than Daily Monitor, the latter provided greater depth of coverage of the election in terms of article length.