A comparative study of print and online media content in Kenya:a case of ‘Daily Nation’ newspaper

Abstract

Development in technology has transformed the way newspapers have traditionally been produced, distributed and read. In Kenya, technological improvements have seen an enhanced access to online newspapers besides the printed copies that traditionally existed. This study sought to establish the extent to which presentation of content in the print newspaper compares with that of the online version. It focused on the differences between the content of the hard copy newspaper and that of the online platform. The research set out to determine how content was displayed and primed in the print newspaper as compared to the online version. This research focused on the ‘Daily Nation’ newspaper in Kenya where the researcher studied the dailies for both the online and print platforms for two weeks between the dates 16th June 2014 to 30th June 2014. The study employed the qualitative research approach where data was generated by way of comparative analysis of the print and online versions of newspapers. The researcher compared the two versions of newspapers under three major parameters: content, display and prominence. The study was guided by the Media Dependency Theory and the Functional Theory of Media and Society, which were very vital in highlighting the issues surrounding media audiences and their media of choice. The research found the online newspaper lacking in a number of features that were evident in the print newspaper. It concluded that the online newspaper was different from the print newspaper in terms of content provision. The researcher therefore recommended that the online newspaper needs to be enhanced to provide more and detailed information to match that of the print newspaper. There also need for the online newspaper to be uploaded in time with a specific focus on accuracy of the dates when the news is presented.