Dear Listers Greetings. Further to an earlier announcement by Alice Munyua on the anticipated discussion of the Media Council Bill 2010, I would like to introduce the structure of the debate which will commence on Monday January 24 and end on February 4, 2011. The purpose of the Media Council Bill: · to provide for the realization of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of media; · for the establishment of the Media Council of Kenya; · for the conduct and discipline of journalists and the media, and for connected purposes. The bill is divided into five parts: Part 1: Preliminary: provides for the title and interpretation/definition of the terminology. Part 2: The Media Council of Kenya: provides for the establishment of the MCK, where it will be headquartered (in this case Nairobi), its functions and operations, the composition of the Council, qualifications of the Chairperson and the members, procedures for their appointment, tenure of office etc. Part 3: Financial Provisions: deals with the sources of finances for the Council. Part 4: Complaints and dispute resolution: provides for how panels to deal with mediation, conciliation and arbitration will be established, the procedure of dealing with the complaints and the powers of the complaints commission. Part 5: Miscellaneous: deals with information provided by media, accreditation of journalists, offences and penalties, and rules. First Schedule: Provides for the Conduct of Business and Affairs of the Council such as meetings of the Council, quorum, special meetings etc. Second Schedule: is the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalists. The MCK Bill can be accessed on the Ministry’s website: http://www.information.go.ke/ The ten day discussion will focus on critical issues, and emerging key issues summarized each day. The process is as follows: Date Thematic Issues Mon 24 Jan, 2010 Intro: MCK’s conformity to the Constitution, Other entities e.g. vision 2030, Its contribution to development of Media, whether it is necessary to build professionalism/empowers etc. Tue 25 Jan Part 1, and Part 2: Functions of the Council, Operations of the Council Wed 26 Jan Part 2: Composition and Qualifications of Chairperson and Members Thur 27 Jan Part 2: Procedure for appointment of members Friday 28 Jan Part 2: Disqualification from membership to the Council, Requirements for appointment, tenure of office of Council members, Cessation of membership of Council members, Director and his/her functions, staff and common seal. Mon 31 Jan Part 3: Financial Provisions Tue 1 Feb, 2010 Part 4: Complaints and dispute resolution Wed 2 Feb Part 5: Miscellaneous Thur 3 Feb First Schedule and Parts of Second Schedule Fri 4 Feb Completion of Second Schedule We look forward to your active participation starting Monday morning. Regards Grace ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have the strength to survive, you have the power to succeed. Life is all about choices we make depending upon the situation we are in. Go forth and rule the World!