Constructive Journalism in the Coverage of Covid-19 In Kenya: A Case of Daily Nation and the Standard Newspapers

Abstract

The study investigated the practice of constructive journalism in the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic by Kenya’s two leading newspapers, Daily Nation and The Standard. It problematized how the pandemic presented the Kenyan media with an opportunity to exercise constructive journalism through solution-oriented reporting, incorporation of diverse perspectives, and facilitation of constructive dialogue amid a public health crisis. It also examined the challenges encountered in adopting these principles. Guided by four research questions, the study explored: how Daily Nation and The Standard implemented solutions-oriented reporting during COVID-19; how they incorporated diverse viewpoints; how constructive dialogue aimed at fostering community resilience and trust was manifest; and what challenges constrained the adoption of constructive journalism practices. The theoretical framework drew primarily on Framing Theory, complemented by Narrative Theory and the Social Cognitive Theory. Conducted within an interpretivist paradigm, the study employed an exploratory analysis research design. The target population comprised all COVID-19-related media content published in the two newspapers. A purposive sample of 160 articles (80 from each newspaper) was analyzed alongside in-depth interviews with five key journalists. Data generation methods included newspaper article content analysis and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed thematically, revealing latent and manifest meanings consistent with constructive journalism tenets. Key findings indicated that solutions-oriented reporting primarily highlighted governmental and institutional responses while underrepresenting citizen agency; diverse viewpoints were included but constrained by elite-driven sourcing and limited grassroots participation; constructive dialogue remained largely top-down, reflecting minimal participatory engagement; and numerous operational, political, and contextual challenges, including limited editorial autonomy and commercial pressures, hindered systematic adoption of constructive journalism. The study concludes that while both newspapers demonstrated foundational elements of constructive journalism, contextual constraints significantly shaped their practice, underscoring the need for media reforms to institutionalize constructive approaches. It recommends context-specific capacity-building, editorial independence, and integration of constructive journalism within training curricula to nurture solution-driven reporting, enhancing public trust and democratic resilience during crises. The study’s significance lies in advancing empirical understanding of constructive journalism within African media systems and offering theoretical and practical insights to guide future media development, crisis communication, and contextual theorization of constructive journalism globally.