Kevin Mudavadi

Biography

Kevin Mudavadi is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Media School at Indiana University. His research primarily centers on the effects of disinformation and misinformation content on digital media platforms on individual decision-making. Additionally, he is intrigued by the relationship between journalistic roles and media perceptions among audiences, particularly in the context of misinformation and media trust. Kevin has researched various aspects, including media perception, disinformation, misinformation, and journalism, examining the Kenyan and United States contexts.

Kevin was the Fall 2021 recipient of the Kern Scholarship for Innovation in Journalism Award. He used this award to examine journalists’ perceptions of the migration of experienced journalists from legacy media to personalized digital platforms in Kenya. Specifically, the study investigates the reasons behind this migration and explores the adaptation strategies employed by legacy media to address this trend. Some of the findings from this research were presented at the 73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference (ICA) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Academic Publication

1. Mudavadi K. C. (2020). Patriarchy and Print Media Coverage in Kenya: An Analysis of Newspaper Framing of Women Politicians in Pre-And-Post 2017 General Election. In Challenging patriarchy: The role of patriarchy in the roll-back of democracy. Eds. C. Kioko, R. Kagumire, & M. Matandela, 101-115. Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
2. Mudavadi, K. C., Nduhiu, N., Ochieng, L., Muriithi, M. & Odhiambo, C. (2017). Uses and Gratifications Approach to the Use of Facebook among Kenyan University Students. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research, 2(2), 83-106.

Selected Learned Conferences & Symposia

1. Mudavadi, K. C.* (May 2023). Third-Person Perception of Digital Political Disinformation in Kenya. 73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference – ICA (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). 
2. Mudavadi, K. C. & Shanahan, J. (May 2023). Journalistic Digital Migration in Kenya. 73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference – ICA  (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). 
3. Matanji, F. Tully, M., Madrid-Morales, D., Mudavadi, K. C., & Layire, D. (October 2022). Perception of and The Role of Fact-Checking to Combat the Spread of Misinformation in Kenya. Global Fusion Conference (Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). 
4. Tully, M., Madrid-Morales, D., Layire, D., Mudavadi, K. C., & Matanji, F. (August 2022). Fact-checking as Process and Product: How Kenyan and Senegalese Media Professionals Combat Misinformation. 105th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference – AEJMC (Detroit, Michigan). 
5. Mudavadi, K. C., Tully, M., & Lomoywara, D. B. (May 2022). Exploring Kenyans’ Interactions with Misinformation on WhatsApp. 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference – ICA (Paris, France). 
6. Mudavadi, K. C., Tully, M., Madrid-Morales, D., Layire, D., & Matanji, F. (May 2022). Understanding Roles, Responsibilities, and Regulation for Addressing Misinformation in Kenya. The 2022 African Digital Media Conference – Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK). 
7. Tully, M., Mudavadi, K. C., & Lomoywara, D. B. (August 2020). Health Misinformation in Kenya. 103rd Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Virtual Conference – AEJMC (University of California-San Diego, California, USA).
8. Mudavadi, K. C. (October 2019). Patriarchy and Print Media Coverage in Kenya: An Analysis of Newspapers Framing of Women Politicians in pre-and-post 2017 General Election. 3rd Biennial African Studies Association of Africa Conference – ASAA (United States International University–Africa, Nairobi, Kenya).
9. Mudavadi, K. C. (October 2019). A Spiral of Silence for Political Discourse: Examining A Comparison Analysis of The Digital Political Empowerment of The United States and Kenya During the Immediate Previous General Elections. 3rd Biennial Association of Africa Conference – ASAA (United States International University–Africa, Nairobi, Kenya).
10. Mudavadi, K. C. (September 2019). A Uses and Gratifications Approach to Usage of Facebook among Kenya College Students. 1st International Symposium on Social Media (United States International University – Africa, Nairobi, Kenya).

* Top-Student Only Paper – International Communication Association (Mass Communication Division – 2023).

Research Grants

1. November 2021: Journalistic Migration or a Fresh Challenge to Traditional Media Gatekeeping? Kern Scholarship Award for Innovation in Journalism – $2,500
2. October 2020: Effective Strategies to Counter the Spread of Health misinformation around COVID-19 in Kenya and Senegal – $10,000.