Date of Award

2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA) in Digital Journalism​

First Advisor

Esther Muthoni Kingori

Department

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Abstract

This study examined the interplay between media freedom and journalists’ safety on digital platforms in Uganda, mainly focusing on Vision Group Media between 2019 and 2024. It explored the compounded challenges faced by journalists on their digital platforms, including physical assaults, legal harassment, cyber threats and psychological intimidation, within a restrictive media environment exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 elections that exposed these journalists to digital threats. The study was mainly based on the New Media Theory, which enabled a more transparent analysis of the risks faced by journalists and in order to understand digital journalists’ perspectives thoroughly, the study used a mixed-methods approach that combined both qualitative data from in-depth interviews with quantitative insights from surveys. The study findings revealed that nearly 47% of journalists had faced online harassment and 60% reported limited access to cybersecurity tools, significantly impacting their ability to operate securely in the country. Also 40% of respondents cited online threats as a major factor preventing them from covering politically sensitive topics like election of holding the government accountable. The research further identified key gaps in the legislative frameworks and resource constraints that hampered journalistic independence and comprised their operations despite their crucial role in strengthening accountability and democracy in less developed nations such as Uganda. The study recommendations the need for legislative reforms, improved cybersecurity measures, and institutional support systems in addressing these challenges that affect the quality and integrity of the news that we get and through addressing these pressing issues, this research will contribute to the broader discourse on media freedom and digital journalism that is a big issue in Uganda thereby providing practical insights to foster a safer and more inclusive digital media landscape.

Download

Share

COinS