Factors Affecting the Academic Achievements among Dean’s Listers of Caraga State University

The study assessed the relationship between the factors affecting the academic achievement of the dean’s listers’ of Caraga State University. It involves the total population of the dean’s listers in the said university. The independent variables are those pre-determined factors’ affecting the academic achievement of the dean’s listers’ of Caraga State University and the dependent variable is the grades of the dean’s listers’. The result shows the low relationship between the pre-determined factors and the academic achievement evidenced by the values of the p-values which are greater than. In terms of the academic achievement of the dean’s listers’ their grades signifies their excellence in their different chosen fields. With regards to the pre-determined factors, the factor that got the highest mean is the teachers’ competence with 3.7639 and the lowest one is the learning environment with 3.6690. The study habits’ got the second spot among the 4 factors followed by the learning styles. Based on Spearmen Correlation analysis in the data gathered, the results revealed that there is no significant relationship between the pre-determined factors and the academic achievement of the dean’s listers’ of Caraga State University. The p-values obtained are less than 0.05 for all the data set; that is accepting the null hypothesis. The results clearly depicts that the students’ study habit, learning style teachers’ competence and the learning environment has no influence to the achievement reached by the dean’s listers’. On the other hand, it is still very important to make and to maintain these factors visible in the academic arena for a better learning and for a better outcome. The absence of these factors might affect the performances of the students’ in Caraga State University.

Online Audience Feedback and Media Accountability in Kenya’S Mainstream Media

This study sought to find out if online audience feedback in terms of engagement, correction and criticism of news stories produced by the media, leads to certain decisions by the media that amounts to accountability. The objectives of this study were; (a) to examine the nature of audience feedback to news stories in Kenya, (b) to determine how media responds to audience feedback on news stories, (c) to examine how the engagement, correction and criticism of news stories by online audiences leads to more accountability in the media, (d) to establish whether prompt reaction by online audience has led to a responsive media. Online audience behaviour was gauged through the active audience theory. The researcher conducted interviews with 15 respondents from five media houses, namely BBC Africa, Nation Media Group, Standard Group, Royal Media Services and Radio Africa. Content analysis was also done using stories extracted from online platforms of the media houses on the coverage of the NYS II Scandal for NMG, SG, Radio Africa Group and Royal Media Services and the night runners for BBC Africa. This study found out that online audience feedback has led to more accountability on the part of the media. Also, that the media takes issue with the nature of audience feedback. Media noted that feedback is mostly harmful to their characters personally and professionally. It is at times subjective, based on feelings and emotions rather than facts that could be used to improve on the profession. This study recommended the need for media literacy skills for the public which in turn will help improve how feedback is given to improve on calls for accountability. The study recommended further inquiry on the mental health of journalists in the wake of constant criticism, trolls and backlash on their personal and professional lives.