The Role of Media in Advocacy and Championing of Messages on Autism: An Analysis of Kenyan Print Media

Abstract

The examined the print media coverage of Autism issues in Kenya by analyzing the two leading dailies: Daily Nation and The Standard in the period of April 2016. Framing Theory and Agenda Setting Theory, were used to guide the study. A total of 60 newspapers were reviewed for this study, those published during the entire Autism awareness month period. The referenced time period was significant on the basis of some observations. Firstly, April is autism awareness month worldwide, and secondly there have been reported cases of a steady increase in children diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum in the recent past in Kenya which means that the general public needs to be more sensitized on matters of Autism and more awareness on how to treat people on the spectrum and families of Autistic people. The findings show that there is very minimal coverage on issues of Autism and related issues in the dailies. The mass media needs to propagate more for the awareness and sensitization of Autism and Autistic related issues.