Assessing the Content Relevance of Gender-based Violence News Articles in Tanzanian Newspapers on Reducing the Problem

Aims: The purpose of the study was to assess the content relevance of Gender-based Violence (GBV) news articles in Tanzanian newspapers on reducing the problem.

The study applied Agenda setting theory (McCombs and Shaw, 1972) as a leading theory complemented by the Priming theory (Iyengar, Peters, and Kender, 1982) and Framing theory (Gregory Bateson, 1972).

Study Design: The study adopted a triangulation approach where both quantitative and qualitative methods and tools were applied.

The study was conducted between September 2022 and January 2023 in six regions of Tanzania Mainland (Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Mtwara, Mwanza, and Tanga) and two main Islands of Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba).

Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and applied a triangulation approach whereby both qualitative and quantitative research methods were applied in data collection, analysis, and reporting. It involved 161 respondents and 297 copies of five daily newspapers for data.

Findings: From the study, it was revealed that GBV content had little relevance. It was scarcely reported; that was, only 2% of GBV articles out of 14,618 were identified. There was also a significant variation in GBV reporting between newspapers - the highest percentage of articles in newspapers was 0.76% and the lowest was 0.06%. In addition, the study revealed sexual violence was reported more frequently 36% and psychological violence less frequently 11%. Furthermore, Kiswahili newspapers carried 80% of all GBV articles compared to 20% of English newspapers. GBV articles were geographically relevant but were not enough to motivate respondents to read newspapers. Hence the majority of the respondents 52% were not satisfied with the usefulness of GBV issues reported in newspapers.

Conclusion: The study concluded that most of the contents of GBV articles in the Tanzanian newspapers had little relevance and thus low contribution to reducing GBV in the country. It was therefore recommended that media houses/outlets should think of establishing special GBV reporting desks, investing in investigative reporting of GBV, and considering the recruitment of specialized GBV editors and reporters.