Analyzing the Coverage of Depression in Kenya: a Case Study of Daily Nation and the Standard Newspapers

Abstract

This study examines media coverage of depression during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic restriction measures imposed on Kenya's dominant print media outlets. As a result of this study, we hope to determine how often depression news stories are covered by The Standard and Daily Nation, analyze where depression news stories are placed in The Standard and Daily Nation, as well as compare the coverage of depression news stories by The Standard and Daily Nation. The study's analysis will be limited to The Standard and Daily Nation newspapers, for the period of April 2020 to October 2020. Due to their dominance in print media in Kenya, Daily Nation and The Standard were chosen. The study examines agenda setting theory as the basis for the study. In this study, qualitative research will be used to analyze the content of Daily Nation and The Standard. A code sheet will be used to analyze the data collected As a result of the findings of this study, the conclusion is that print media coverage of depression stories is abysmally low. In order to increase their sales, media houses are primarily profit-making organizations and tend to focus on topics that will increase their sales. The issue of depression is not included in this category by nature, but requires additional attention if we intend for our country to remain healthy. As an information tool, print media should give depression issues prominence in their reporting.