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Jack J. Valenti School of Communication

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  6. Kioko Ireri

Faculty & Staff

Kioko Ireri, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Journalism in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston, Texas, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from The Media School, Indiana University Bloomington (2015), Indiana, USA. Ireri received his M.A. in Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies from Miami University, Ohio in 2009 and 2007, respectively. He earned Associate of Arts in Journalism from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication—graduating with top honors (top student) and awarded the Africa Council for Communication Education Perpetual Award—KIMC Journalist of the Year 2002. His research work focuses on mainly four areas—journalism studies, media studies, political communication and digital media studies in developing democracies. Ireri’s research has been published in acclaimed journals like Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, International Journal of Press/Politics, Journalism, News Research Journal, Journalism Practice, Digital Journalism, African Journalism Studies, International Journal of Communication and Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, among others. He is an author of six book chapters (four in journalism), as well as several newspaper commentaries. His research work has been presented at internationally recognized conferences such as the International Communication Association (ICA), and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). 

Currently, he serves on the editorial board of Online Media & Global Communication. Ireri has served as a reviewer for various journals—including News Research Journal, Journalism Studies, The International Journal of Press/Politics, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, African Journalism Studies, Online Media & Global Communication, Journalism, and Digital Journalism. He has taught journalism and mass communication courses at the university level for 15 years—in Kenya, USA, and Cyprus. He previously worked as a news reporter for The People Daily and in public relations at Gina Din Corporate Communications, both in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Ireri has consulted for the Media Council of Kenya on press freedom, the Government of Kenya on public relations, media strategies and policy formulation and the International Media Support (Denmark) on journalists’ safety in Kenya and Somalia. He has also served as an external examiner for Bomet University College, Moi University, Multimedia University of Kenya and Daystar University—all in Kenya.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Mass Communication (2015), Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
  • M.A. in Mass Communication (2009), Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA.   
  • B.Phil. in Interdisciplinary Studies (2007), Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA.   
  • Associate of Arts in Journalism (2002, top student award), Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Nairobi, Kenya.

Teaching

  • COMM2311: Writing for Print & Digital Media

  • COMM3315: News & Social Media

  • COMM4317: Multimedia Journalism

  • COMM3376: Media Effects

  • COMM6317: Media Effects

Selected Publications

  • Ochieng, J., Grabe, M. E., Ireri, K., & Mudavadi, K. C. (2025). Mitigating Information Insecurity: An African Perspective on Satisfaction With Democracy. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 0(0).

  • Ireri, K. (2024). Cross-Border Journalism in Sub-Saharan Africa. In L. Rothernberger, M. Loffelholz & D. Weaver (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Cross-Border Journalism. Gewerbestrasse: Springer Nature.

  • Ireri, J. & Ochieng, J. (2024). Determinants of Women Legislators’ Media Coverage in a Male-Dominated Kenya Political Landscape. Journalism, 26(9), 1982-1999.

  • Sobel Cohen, M., McIntyre, K., Semujju, B., Ireri, K., & Munyarukumbuzi, E. (2023). Demographic Differences in Digital News Literacy in East Africa. African Journalism Studies, 43(3), 51-67.

  • Ireri, K. (2022). Images from the Battlefields: How Al-Jazeera and BBC News Sites Visually Framed the Libyan Revolution. Visual Communication Quarterly, 29(1), 48-61.   

  • Ireri, K., & Ochieng, J. (2022). The Kenya “high-octane” Devolution Politics: Comparing Predictors of Governors and Senators’ Coverage in National Press. Newspaper Research Journal, 43(4), 426-447.

  • Tully, M., Madrid-Morales, D., Wasserman, H., Gondwe, G., & Ireri, K. (2021). Who is Responsible for Stopping the Spread of Misinformation? Examining Audience Perceptions of Responsibilities and Responses in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries. Digital Journalism, 10(5), 679-697. 

  • Madrid-Morales, D., & Ireri, K. (2021). Disruptions and Transformations of Digital media in Africa: An Interdisciplinary Overview. Journal of African Media Studies, 13(1), 3-16.  

  • Ireri, K., & Ochieng, J. (2020). Politicians in Newspaper News: Who Attracts Coverage in Kenyan Politics. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 25(4), 675-691.  

  • Ireri, K., Ochieng, J., & Roberts, A. (2019). An Exploratory Study on Knowledge Gap in Public Affairs among Kenyans. African Journalism Studies, 39(4), 152-177. 

  • Ireri, K. (2018). Professional Ethics: High Corruption in Kenyan Journalism Practice. In E. Freedman, R. Goodman & E. Steyn (eds.) Critical Perspectives on Journalistic Beliefs and Actions: Global Experiences. (pp. 117-128). New York: Routledge.

  • Ireri, K. (2018). Exploring Journalism and Mass Communication Training in Kenya: A National Survey. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 17(3), 293-307.   

  • Ireri, K., Ongus, E., Laboso, E., Kangai, M., & Onsongo, J. (2017). First Level Agenda-Setting: A Study of Press vs. Public Opinion in Kenya. African Journalism Studies, 38((3-4), 26-49.   

  • Ireri, K. (2017). A National Survey of Demographics Composition of Kenyan Journalists. Journalism, 18(2), 241-261.   

  • Ireri, K. (2016). High Job Satisfaction Despite Low Income: A National Study of Kenyan Journalists. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 93(1), 164-186.   

  • Ireri, K. (2016). Do They Preach Water But Drink Wine? Examining “The Corruption Dragon” in Kenyan Journalism. Journal of Media Ethics, 31(4), 245-259.

  • Ireri, K. (2014). Four-Country Newspaper Framing of Barack Obama Multiracial Identity in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. African Journalism Studies, 35(3), 23-38.   

    Honors

  • 2022: Chief Judge for Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)—African Climate Change & Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards.

  • 2016—2017: Recognized by the School of Graduate Studies, Research & Extension (USIU-Africa) as one of the three distinguished faculty in research. 

  • 2015: Recognized by the University Faculty Council as one of the Most Outstanding Faculty (USIU-Africa.)

  • 2015: USIU-Africa Library Repository Award, first runner-up.

  • 2014—2015: The Most Outstanding Faculty Award, Journalism Program (USIU-Africa).

  • 2007: Dean’s List, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

  • 2004: Kenya Union of Journalists Award, first runner-up in legal reporting category.

  • 2002: Africa Council for Communication Education Perpetual Award—Kenya Institute of Mass Communication Journalist of the Year 2002.