Challenges Faced By Community Radio in Countering the Covid-19 Infodemic in Kenya; A Case of Anyole Radio

Abstract

The emergence of the Covid 19 pandemic not only posed a threat to global health systems but also posed a significant threat to the global information system particularly through the rise of the infodemic; the rapid spread of misinformation; catapulted through the use of social media. With the instantaneous nature of social media coupled with the unregulated and free orientation, traditional media such as radio faced a significant challenge keeping up with rapid misinformation spread particularly in countering misinformation on the Covid-19 pandemic. This study examined the challenges faced by community radios in countering misinformation on the Covid-19 pandemic. Anchored on the agenda setting theory, the research evaluates whether legacy media such as radio maintains a strong position in setting the agenda for media conversations or whether this role has been usurped by new media such as social media. A case study design was employed incorporating 396 respondents including radio listeners, journalists and health specialists. A mixed method sampling combining quota sampling and purposive sampling was used with questionnaires and interviews being used as the research instruments. From the findings, it was established that community radio was faced with challenges both in the information flow and radio operations tied to the orientation of community radios. Rumors and conspiracy theories posed the biggest challenge in the information flow while limited resources was identified as the biggest operational challenge. Internet sources and social media were identified as the biggest contributors to misinformation alongside other sources such as word of mouth. Sources such as print media and community radio were only identified by a minority of the respondents as contributors to misinformation. This was also observed in were challenges relating to language and cultural barriers, engagement and comprehension, balancing of opposing viewpoints.