I think we are trying to trivialise a very critical aspect of what has happened to this country. I must stand up to be counted as a media practitioner and say that YES, the media (they really know it!) stand accused.
 
Prior to and after elections, several media houses became blatant in their bias. In my opinion, some media houses were used to create a situation where one side was not supposed to lose - with dire consequences for us all if they did.
 
In the course of marketing their preferred presidential candidate, journalists fell into the propaganda trap of the main antagonists. For the true and ethical professionals, what we saw and read as agenda setting was simply disgusting! It was really unimaginable that some journalists behaved like they were aliens and would simply fly into space if this country burned down - like it so nearly did.
 
This is really a highly emotive issue but let not us underestimate or insult the intelligence of Kenyans. We all know that there is a lot of money that changes hands and big promises given during critical moments like elections.
 
The Government task force is inevitable but of course with MCK representatives. Otherwise, in future we could easily have a Rwanda situation as the media gets bolder and more aggressive with their agenda. We as the media must realise that irresponsibility will cost us all and denial is not really a strategy any more. 
 
Stephen Ndegwa

 
On 13/02/2008, David Aduda <daduda@nation.co.ke> wrote:

Dear colleagues,

Having followed the debate on the media audit, I'm convinced there is consensus that it's important that we review how the media handled the elections, before, during and after. That is perfectly in order. What's alarming is the insistence that the government should do it, whereas there is an organisation, the Media Council, whose mandate includes checking how the media operates with a view to protect the producers and consumers of news.We've expressed our views as media practitioners about our disdain for a governmental audit and Dr Bitange knows about that. Our suggestion remains, let MCK do the audit, otherwise we'll be accused of creating institutions just to kill them.

But it must be noted vilifying the media won't do when all of us know where the problem lies. It's human to take an easy route out of a crisis. The ministry of Information and Communications must not fall into that trap.

Finally, I associate myself with a view expressed earlier by one contributor, namely, moderation in this discourse.

David Aduda
Nation Media Group

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only.  It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information.  No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission.  If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender.  You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient.

Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Nation Media Group.

To get all breaking news alerts send the word BREAK to 6667 or visit http://www.nationmedia.com/wap to read news on your mobile phone.


_______________________________________________
kictanet mailing list
kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke
http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

This message was sent to: mesafric@gmail.com
Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mesafric%40gmail.com




--
Stephen Ndegwa Mwangi
Executive Director
MediaSpeak Africa
P. O. Box 18154-00100
Nairobi GPO
Tel.: +254-20-2712309
Cell: +254-724-376 883
Kenya.