Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism

This paper is aimed at observing the coverage of suicide issues in Daily Kawish newspaper-a well-recognized Sindhi language newspaper. Content analysis technique is applied in this study. News items excluding editorials, articles, columns and letters to editor features were analyzed.

Results show that 38 items in terms of frequency were reported by newspaper in the month of June. Items carrying attempted and completed suicide acts reported were 13 and 25, respectively. 21 news stories depicted females committing suicide acts and while 17 portrayed males committing suicide acts. Given that 17 news items did not identify the age of those committing suicide, 14 news depicted age bracket from 21 to 40 years of people committing suicide acts, and while 7 news items elaborated the age bracket under 20 years of people committing suicide. As for placement, 21 news items were placed on the inner pages excluding showbiz and editorial, 9 were placed on agriculture and business section page, and 8 items were placed on the second page of the newspaper. 19 news items showed that people who committed suicide used hanging method and 14 showed people committed suicide by using poisoning technique and 5 by using other techniques. In terms of causes of committing suicide, 22 news items explained the domestic conflicts, 8 unidentified, 5 mental disorder and whereas 3 items showed other issues as causes behind committing suicide acts.

All the news items detected to have not come up with images of suicide acts. The respective newspaper must also cover announcement news and awareness campaign concerned news against this phenomenon as well.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) implementation and to better understand the relationship between teachers’ outlook and CPD implementation in primary schools of South Wollo zone. A total of 90 first and 96 second cycle primary teachers, 24 principals and vice principals, 11 supervisors, 4 education experts from sample woredas and two experts from the zone education office participated in the study. To collect data about the practice of CPD at school level and its effect on classroom teaching questionnaires were administered to teachers, principals, vice principals and supervisors. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to teachers to generate data regarding teachers’ perception of CPD. Pertaining to teachers self-efficacy, scales were adapted from Tschannen-Moran and Woolfok Hoy. To secure qualitative data, interview, class session observation and document analysis were used. The finding of the study indicated that first cycle primary school teachers had higher level of participation in CPD learning activities than second cycle primary school teachers.

Social media are tools of communication and collaboration through the exchange of text, images, video, live streaming and presentation. It has become the most common activity of today’s youth. Websites that allow people to communicate with others is considered as social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, Snapchat, telegram etc. and also video sites such as YouTube; and blogs. Currently, social media has become the gate of entertainment and communication for the youth. With the spread of dozens of social interacting applications, the way and nature of human communication has changed today compared to the past. The study found that the teenagers no longer feel loneliness as they are in touch with their friends through social media. In addition of positive utilization of social media, it bears adverse effects as well viz: social activity of youth is reduced as they rely most of the time on social media; medical conditions such as eye-sight issues and gastric conditions; a decrease in intelligence quotient etc. This paper lists the social media utilization on youth through a survey among youth in Shivamogga.