Abstract

This paper explores youths’ engagement with interactive media and determines whether there are debates of political and civic nature. It also investigates initiatives being undertaken by responsible agencies to provide a supportive environment for the youths to engage interactive media platforms constructively for promotion of citizenship and civic participation.  It is premised that with their numerical superiority and exposure to new media, youths can no longer be manipulated into passive participants in the civic and political arena. This study investigated the status of media use and examines the extent to which media are evolving into instruments for citizenship and civic participation among the youths. Qualitative and quantitative approaches; interviews, focus group discussions, and content analysis were used to gather data. Findings reveal that opportunities created by ICT for youths to assert their rightful roles are not optimally utilized. Youth’s media engagement is dominated by casual chats and entertainment. The traditional adult patronage still prevails in contemporary media. Educational institutions, leaders, media professionals and civil society have capacity to enhance the agenda-setting and gate-keeping functions of media which is critical for promoting legitimate policies, mutual understanding, shared visions and rational argumentation among actors. This could reduce risks of youth’s engagement in civil conflict and unrest. 

Key Words: Civic Participation; Sustainable Peace; Media; Interactivity; Democracy

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*Dr. Frederick Kakembo, Ph.D., is the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ndejje University, Kampala, Uganda.

**Dr. Saidah Najjuma Mbooge, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the  Department of Social Development, Ndejje University, Kampala, Uganda.

***Goretti Kyeswa is a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Public Affairs, Ndejje University, Kampala, Uganda

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 8, No. 1, April  2016, 125 – 140