Even brave men respect life's limitations. One cannot afford to loose value regarding a decision that forces someone to choose sides.
Am saying this because as a journalist, we are the eye of the society and we ought to do journalistic endeavours in an objective way. We are supposed to be neutraL,not take sides.
But alas! We should achieve "balance", "objectivity", and "neutrality" when at the same time morality dictates that we ought to exercise empathy, sympathy and honesty??
Moral character defines a person but in journalism, intelligence defines a journalist.
When a riot occurs and innocent people die or suffer at the hands of another man's decision, how do we as journalists report?? We report in a manner that clearly shows we take sides, how? We instill pity for those who are suffering while at the same time instill rage towards those who are the masterminds and underdog causes of the violence.
Whatever the case, we do take sides although we report in a balanced way. i.e we give each side a fair platform to be heard but at the end there is always a side that the story or investigation lean towards.
In another case, I witnessed a person being burnt alive in the slum of Kibera after stealing a cheap phone, when journalists arrrived moments later to capture the ordeal, did they report anything beyond the boaders of the actual burning??
But when a minister or politician is caught in a scandal either sexual or corruption deals, do we not report beyond the boundaries of the scandal in concession with various running stories time and time again?? If we do not take sides, why do we report in a biased manner, taking prominence as a consideration yet human life is equal.
Why is it that when people scream in hunger around the numerous slums of Kenya, the media takes a numb look at the situation and gives a few seconds of airtime to the wailing mouths compared to a minister who visits the same slums time and again giving empty petty promises all over in different versions of stories??
Well, scholars will say that its about prominence as a jouranlistic news element, but an intelligent human being ponders on what grounds does the life of another man befit
the misery of a destitute with a slim future. So tell me, dont we take sides??
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
"oneway" forgotten journalsim
The media is supposed to represent the voice of the people, those who are in the upper class and those who are marginalised.
well, upto now, the media in kenya and East Africa is doing that relatively well but not in the expected way.
It is like giving a half bottle of water to a drought stricken individual with promises to give more after a few hours only to dissapear forever.
Let me make an example out of my statement, the case concerning Tom Cholemondely,the media did a huge task to keep the public informed on the new things and new findings made in the case upto the last moment when the guy was released from jail. Kudos!! Now what then?? i know many are asking themselves that what is there to report any more?? Of what relevance??
When we talk of dinity, we say the media nowadys treat human beings more like objects of sympathy than those who have even a brief sense of belonging and dignity, and I TOTALLY agree!!
How do we know that Tom is keeping to his promise of taking care of the late Njoya's family, education needs and other agreed terms!!
How are we supposed to know if the media does not do a follow up on such a case?
Take a look at the case concerning the self-confessed serial killers, after all the drama shown television, what is going on now?? Nothing!! instead we keep on following politicians day and night as they lead and mislead kenyans on the constitution, giving them onormous airtime on Tv as they repeat things they said yesterday than the amount of airtime given to victims of hunger, crime and other disater like problems.
When Mps decided to increase their salries, the media swung into parliament sending many reporters dayin day out do the same thing, forgetting all the other issues affecting the country at large. It is af if the cardinal rule of journalistic reporting is that once something new comes up it is a crime to focus on the other issues, thus they are left pending never to be touched on again, unless another serious "juicy" deatil swings into being.
There are so many people who crave to know more on most on a a most stories than less on very many stories. I think it is time to take up responsibility and accountability to a higher level.
well, upto now, the media in kenya and East Africa is doing that relatively well but not in the expected way.
It is like giving a half bottle of water to a drought stricken individual with promises to give more after a few hours only to dissapear forever.
Let me make an example out of my statement, the case concerning Tom Cholemondely,the media did a huge task to keep the public informed on the new things and new findings made in the case upto the last moment when the guy was released from jail. Kudos!! Now what then?? i know many are asking themselves that what is there to report any more?? Of what relevance??
When we talk of dinity, we say the media nowadys treat human beings more like objects of sympathy than those who have even a brief sense of belonging and dignity, and I TOTALLY agree!!
How do we know that Tom is keeping to his promise of taking care of the late Njoya's family, education needs and other agreed terms!!
How are we supposed to know if the media does not do a follow up on such a case?
Take a look at the case concerning the self-confessed serial killers, after all the drama shown television, what is going on now?? Nothing!! instead we keep on following politicians day and night as they lead and mislead kenyans on the constitution, giving them onormous airtime on Tv as they repeat things they said yesterday than the amount of airtime given to victims of hunger, crime and other disater like problems.
When Mps decided to increase their salries, the media swung into parliament sending many reporters dayin day out do the same thing, forgetting all the other issues affecting the country at large. It is af if the cardinal rule of journalistic reporting is that once something new comes up it is a crime to focus on the other issues, thus they are left pending never to be touched on again, unless another serious "juicy" deatil swings into being.
There are so many people who crave to know more on most on a a most stories than less on very many stories. I think it is time to take up responsibility and accountability to a higher level.
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