8. Name: Ali Abbas Jamal Title: The Political Influence of Al Jazeera Network on Kuwaitis: A Uses and Gratifications Study Institution: University of Southern Mississippi Country: United States Date: 2004 Language: English Abstract: This study provides a comparative analysis examining the motivations that urged Kuwaitis to watch Al Jazeera and whether those motivations differed from gratifications obtained from watching the Kuwaiti television. This study explores Al Jazeera’s political influence on Kuwaitis by examining the associations between motivations and time spent watching it on one hand and interest in politics, frequency of voting, discussion of civic issues, trust in government, and political efficacy on the other hand. The findings revealed that 82% of Kuwaitis watched Al Jazeera; those who did not thought the network’s coverage of Kuwait was biased. Two main factors compelled Kuwaitis to watch Al Jazeera: social and personal. Kuwaitis favored Al Jazeera over local Kuwaiti television for excitement, while they favored Kuwaiti television over Al Jazeera for guidance, information, and services. Demographic variables were important in deciding what motivations led to watching Al Jazeera versus local Kuwaiti television. Males with higher education level, higher income, and older individuals preferred Al Jazeera to Kuwaiti television. Females with lower education level, lower income, and younger individuals received greater gratifications from Kuwaiti television than from Al Jazeera.
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