COVID-19 Coverage in Zimbabwean media: Implications for communication strategies
Abstract Since the first appearance of COVID-19 over two years ago, there has been extensive coverage of the virus in the Zimbabwean media and world...
Abstract
Since the first appearance of COVID-19 over two years ago, there has been extensive coverage of the virus in the Zimbabwean media and worldwide. The media has since assumed the responsibility to strengthen access to COVID-19 information. Recently, COVID-19 information coverage in Zimbabwe intensified, triggered by the vaccination drive. This contribution analyses the form and function of randomly selected COVID-19 information, dispersed via diverse Zimbabwe media platforms (mainstream media, social media, online media and digital media), between 1st of January and 31st of March 2022, with the objective to determine implications for COVID-19 intervention communication. This textual data was evaluated based on the Textual Analysis framework, which describes and interprets the characteristics and functions of texts. Within this paradigm, qualitative Content Analysis was employed as a data analysis tool, involving identifying, classifying and interpreting selected COVID-19 information. Findings indicate that the types of COVID-19 information, accessed via different forms of media in Zimbabwe include; news, public announcements, regulations, press releases, medical information and technical reports. It is concluded that mainstream media should be given more responsibility, social media be reformed, access to online media be strengthened and digital media be used complimentarily with other forms of media.
Key Words: COVID-19, Media, Coverage, Zimbabwe, Textual Analysis, Content Analysis.
JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 14, No. 2, October 2022, pp. 27-37
© Association of Media and Communication Researchers of Nigeria (AMCRON).
About the author
*Clemenciana Mukenge, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Creative Media and Communication, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Her research interests are health communication, language and media and new media.
Article Citation
Mukenge, C. (2022). COVID-19 Coverage in Zimbabwean media: Implications for communication strategies. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14 (2): 27-37
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