4-1-9 is a multi-billion-dollar international email scam that is believed to have originated from Nigeria. This study examines the framing of email communications used in this fraud and content-analyzes their lexical features. Findings indicate that the scammers used Realism as the main persuasive lexical characteristic in the messages, that is, language that suggests meeting tangible needs in people’s everyday lives. The scammers also framed their messages as ‘business’ proposals to disguise their fraudulent tactics and plans. But while the scam may have originated from Nigeria, it appears that it may no longer be operationally restricted to that country.

The media in Africa are often indicted for being partly responsible for the conflicts and tensions in the continent, and the role of the radio in escalating the 1994 genocide in Rwanda is frequently cited in support of this indictment. This article examines newspaper reports of the post 2007 presidential election violence in Kenya and finds a contrast to the Rwandan 'model'. Although the newspapers analysed did not provide any forewarning about the impending crisis, they relentlessly published news stories and house editorials that addressed peace-building in the country. The authors suggest that the Kenyan example raises two main issues: (a) the media can play functional roles in de-escalating conflicts in Africa; and (b) reporters should be society's moral witnesses, not 'objective' bystanders, who watch and report on the collapse of humanity.

Media ethics generally recommends that journalists should avoid accepting any form of gratification in order to maintain their objectivity and professional integrity. This study investigated the application of this ethical injunction in Kuwait. It surveyed and interviewed Kuwaiti journalists on their attitude toward gratification. Results indicate a breach of this ethical recommendation. Reasons for this include lack of media ethics education and training among journalists and the absence of ethical guidance by media owners. In addition, for a number of Kuwaiti reporters, journalism is a part-time job.

This study assesses the usefulness of the agenda setting theory in communications research outside its traditional European and American habitat. It examines Kenya (Africa), with the research question: Did the media matter in the 2007 presidential election in Kenya? Furthermore, it examines the role of the media just before and after the election in Kenya, to ascertain whether the media anticipated the nation-wide violence that rocked the country, and how that event was subsequently covered.Research results suggest issues, cognitive and affective media agenda setting influence on the public agenda, and positively answered the research question. Respondents also perceived media influence in their choice of political candidates.This study also found that the media did not anticipate or point to the possibility of a violent outcome from the election, but deeply resorted to peace journalism when the violence erupted and spread. Content analysis and survey were used in the study.Overall, this research adds to attempts to universalize the agenda setting theory. It shows that the theory is a learning process that affects decisions, not just showing media influence on what their audiences think about. It also points out the failure of the media in not going beyond horse-race issues in an election. On the other hand, it demonstrates the capacity of the media as a force for cohesion and unity in times of national tragedy.

No abstract