A Framing Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Genetically Modified Crops in Kenya

Abstract

There was much public debate in Kenya about genetically modified (GM) crops when the national Biosafety Bill went through the parliamentary process toward enactment into law. This study analyzed how GM crops were framed in three mainstream Kenyan newspapers—the Daily Nation, The Standard, and Taifa Leo—during the period. The agriculture frame was predominant in the Daily Nation and The Standard, while the safety and regulation frames dominated coverage in Taifa Leo. Only 34.7% of articles were neutral in tone. Scientists and government officials, who generally spoke in favor of GM crops, were the most frequently quoted sources. Recommendations to improve the quality of coverage include training of journalists to ensure objective and balanced reporting.