An analysis of The Daily Monitor’s coverage of the enactment of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022

Abstract

The study acknowledges that the media coverage of legislation does not automatically equate to a change in policy direction. Using The Daily Monitor as a case study and guided by the agenda setting theory, the study analysed the coverage of the enactment of the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act, 2022. The study investigated the key issues focused on by The Daily Monitor, how they were covered and the factors that shaped this coverage. The period studied was from July to October 2022, that is right from when the Bill was first read in Parliament to when the President assented to it into law. Using content analysis, data was collected from the newspaper articles. This was followed by in-depth interviews with 10 respondents who were purposively selected. They included editors, journalists from The Daily Monitor, Members of Parliament, media scholars, lawyers, and activists. From the findings, it was observed that the DM elaborately presented the policy implications of the amendment, while emphasising the law's potential effects on freedom of expression. The newspaper’s coverage also scrutinised the law’s alignment with national and international legal standards, on access and dissemination of information without frontiers. It further explored the political contexts surrounding the Bill. The factors that influenced The Daily Monitor's coverage include its role as a watchdog, the Editor’s and Journalist’s self-interest in the law, commitment to news values that front balanced and elaborate reporting, and responsiveness to the flow of public feedback. Despite reservations voiced by some stakeholders, the newspaper's critical standpoint against the amendment did not halt the passing of the Law. The study recommended that The Daily Monitor (DM) enhance its coverage of social justice concerns, increase the visibility of legislative issues on prime newspaper pages, maintain balanced reporting by presenting diverse viewpoints in articles on sensitive topics like freedom of expression, and broaden engagement with marginalised groups rather than focusing on the elites. The study emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability, more so when a media house is confronted by a conflict of interest, and continuous public education remain key in media practices to foster informed public discussions and democratic participation.