Harrison, Agreed! Media's responsible self-regulation is paying off see have a look; --snip-- COMMENTARY Media council should set rules for covering conflicts Story by PETER MWAURA | Fair Play Publication Date: 1/5/2008 After viewing a K24 Eyewitness News video tape by Jeff Koinange (of CNN fame) on the riots in Kibera, Nairobi, and several newspaper pictures of the post-election violence that began on Sunday, I was struck by one fact: The rioters understood that they must feed the cameras. In those pictures, the rioters were acting out for the cameras. They seemed to know that to further their side of the dispute they had to get the media to become part of them. They understood perfectly that they had to feed the media to keep their cause in the headlines. So when the cameras arrived, the rioters stepped up their war dance, held up their stones and machetes and burning tyres menacingly for the world to see. They were seeking to influence public perceptions of the riots. And the media empowered them. I was also struck by the symbiotic relationship between journalists and rioters. I was reminded of the famous CNN video tape of Nigeria's Niger Delta rebels repeatedly aired on February 7, 2007. Wielding guns, the rebels in black outfits and black ski masks put up a war dance for the benefit of Jeff Koinange and his TV crew. BY COVERING A CONFLICT, JOURNALISTS play out the conflict. They frame, and sometimes inflame, the conflict. They create the reality on which we base our understanding of the conflict. <http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=25&newsid=113974> --snip-- Thus Media Council should be more active in stepping forward to be more all-round visible? Best, Alex On Jan 9, 2008 11:04 AM, Harrison K Kairo <[email protected]> wrote:
I don't think we need to throw the baby out with the bath water. The problem is not that there are vernacular stations, but that these stations have been used irresponsibly by their promoters. Vernacular stations if responsibly managed can play the important function of positively promoting culture and traditions; which add to our national heritage.
What we need is a code of ethics and regulation that impose stiff penalties on those who use vernacular radio stations for purposes of incitement.
Regards, Harry Karanja SoftLaw Limited www.softlaw.co.ke