ABSTRACT

Today, Kenya has a vibrant media landscape, one of the most sophisticated in the region. In particular, vernacular radio—radio stations that broadcast news and entertainment in indigenous languages—is thriving. Vernacular stations have grown in popularity and there are now more than 30 airing across the country. However, critics have suggested that vernacular stations played a role in the 2007 post-election violence that killed more than 1000 people. This study, qualitative interviews with Kenyan journalists, set out to understand what role vernacular radio plays in the contemporary journalism landscape in Kenya. The results revealed that while journalists recognize their value primarily for cultural preservation and for rural communities to obtain information, which can lead to increased development and political participation, there are negative aspects. Journalists see the stations as contemporary contributors to the tribal divisions that still exist in the country. Analyzed from the lens of social responsibility theory—that being, that media organizations should operate with some level of concern for the public good—vernacular radio as a journalism practice presents unique implications for development and continued democratization, as well as for the media to fulfill its social responsibility.

摘要

如今，肯尼亚拥有活跃的媒体环境，是该地区最先进的媒体之一。特别是，以当地语言广播新闻和娱乐的广播电台-乡话广播正在蓬勃发展。白话电视台越来越受欢迎，现在全国有30多个电视台播出。但是，批评人士建议说，白话站在2007年大选后的暴力事件中发挥了作用，这场暴力事件杀死了1000多人。这项研究是对肯尼亚记者的定性采访，旨在了解白话广播在肯尼亚当代新闻界中的作用。结果表明，尽管记者认识到他们的价值主要在于文化保护和农村社区获取信息的价值，这可以促进发展和政治参与，有消极的方面。记者们将这些电台视为该国仍然存在的部落分裂的当代贡献者。从社会责任理论的角度进行分析（即，媒体组织应该在某种程度上关注公共利益）-作为新闻实践的本地广播对发展和持续民主化以及媒体的实现具有独特的意义。它的社会责任。