Comments on: What is ailing Kenyan Journalism Pt. II?

By: Osas

Osas — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:28:24 +0000

My opinion about Philip Ochieng is not all that high *smile*; I can’t stand people pretending erudition, but constantly misspelling all their “fancy” words, and heaping one Latin grammar blunder on the other, while trying to impress others. Oh my, maybe it’s just my pet peeve.

But I agree with another argument that was brought forth here: I wish that the good articles would still be honed a bit better, and that just a few more in-depth articles with substantial information and research were added; the usual mix of light and heavy, tabloid and high-brow as such can and should continue.

Oh: and I wish that Kenyan state offices as well as NGOs in general, and journalists in particular, would learn that emails can actually be *answered*. Yes, it is possible .

Osas

By: InSidious

InSidious — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 08:22:30 +0000

I think acolyte envisions a perpetuated paradigm of the journalistic norm that has plagued Kenyan journalism. Those who otherwise blaze the trail .i.e Phillip Ochieng for the most part are viewed as pariahs in their profession. Accepting substandard journalism is a critical element of a society mature or otherwise and how they view facts and not folk tales. Tabloid journalism is rampart and has been embraced as pseudo custom.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 05:10:39 +0000

I do not know if this will post but I want to do this anonymously.

Do not take this the wrong way. I do not mean to be judgemental but it seems to me to be that this is the standard ethics before all, standards before money, service before profits spiel.

Look around you and you will see something amazing. The organizations and the people who practice what you are talking about here, they live it first and mostly, they do not advertise it.

Walk the walk first and those around you will see it. Talking the talk is cheap.

If you want to make this happen, start doing it. Do not wait for peopke around you to contribute. As you do what you need to do, you will find that good people with the capacity to participate will find you….

By: Raymond

Raymond — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 04:51:57 +0000

a little patriotism in jounalism won’t hurt. How about the lack of a sound bill for the freedom of information act currently in parliament? Maybe citizen jounalism is the way so solving some of our press problems

By: M

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:42:47 +0000

The thing is, like it has been observed, the problem may not entirely lie with the papers.

For instance, in my opinion the Sunday Standard is one of the best reads due the the investigative pieces contained therein. Problem is a disturbingly large percentage go straight for the Penknife and Society.

Put another way, i’d still buy it if it only had the investigatvie jouralism and analyses alone.

Most Kenyans i fear will do no such thing.

So, as a newspaper editor this is a very big deal indeed. At the end of the day the business angle of the newspaper wil take precedence.

The only paper that will achieve the goals you put so excellently will probably have to forego the business angle altogether to have a chance of success….

By: Acolyte

Acolyte — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 23:51:19 +0000

@ Mymmoh
I feel you 110% coz that is what I was trying to bring out at some point earlier.The bulk of the people aren’t ready for some the lofty ideals that are being espoused here.We can’t expect our papers to reason like those in the first world when most of the people are not yet there yet.People are still buying the papers as “flawed” as they are now because they are meeting a need, when the people are ready the papers will be less tabloid like.So let’s give society time to catch up

By: Mymmoh

Mymmoh — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:29:58 +0000

All the above is true to a certian extent. But taking all what’s been said into consideration, the audience is the key. It would be the community Ory referred to as the “good papers” being loyal to. I have to point out that I think the general Kenyan audience is not ready for “good journalism”. Kenyans prefer random excitement. Sensationalism and not really fact. I agree this is a problem that could sprout from too many idlers due to unemployment. However, I believe that I’m correct in stating a paper that is more of tabloid reference sells better than one that phrases its information in a news format. So maybe its not the journalists or journalism. Its the people, the readers. We need to change those attitudes first. And cultivate a desire for true knowledge.

By: Keguro

Keguro — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:07:51 +0000

zines! zines! zines!

I know I seem obsessed. But I keep thinking about taking school magazines as a model for how to think about networks of locally-driven, relatively inexpensive zines, fortnightly or monthly, that could speak to local concerns, while also achieving some sort of national forum.

I think Aco is right on “official” reporters. But what about the power of unofficial reporting. Biased, true. Partial, true. Perhaps inflamatory. But also, at times, a spur to action (at least in my ideal world).

Think about how small zines could actually begin to develop civic responsibility in local high school populations, offer chances for small workshops from established reporters and journalists.

Did I mention that international foundations, especially those dedicated to democratic causes, would absolutely leap at the idea of a people’s press? I know we have issues with accepting international funding, but it could be one way.

Locally-run, high-school and radio-based zines. Short pieces. I think very jua kali.

By: M

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:25:07 +0000

Personally i’d hate to be a newspaper editor. You have to be mindful of:
1) Whoever is funding you
2) Advertisers
3) Your staff
4) Your readers
5) Government
6) Your competitors

They all want one or more of the following
1) Business
2) Entertainment
3) Information
4) Their cause(s) to be pushed
5) Commentary
6) Analysis
7) Profit

I’m very skeptical that any one paper can please everyone at the same time.

No one is claiming that a paper can please everyone at the same time, but they can aspire to good journalism as difficult as it may be.

By: Acolyte

Acolyte — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 02:15:41 +0000

It is always good to be a source of inspiration and inspire soul searching.:grin:Well I think there are stories about the dealings among the different parties everyday esp in the intelligence part of the Standard.The Standard also does many detailed dossiers about players in politics highlighting their wheeling and dealing of the past.I think that it is their behaviour over the whole referendum affair that may have rubbed many journalistic idealogues the wrong way.Not to say the Kenyan press are blameless but I also think that after weathering the storm and the oppression during the one party state and latter years of the Moi administration they have become somewhat complacent with what they have achieved seeing as corruption as their only other major issue.But social issues could get more coverage but I think that also what happens is that even though many of these issues get coverage little about them changes and the press tires of highlighting them case in point the K street prostitutes there is a special about them every year in the Nation and the Standard year after year.Speaking of which did I read this years?:roll: although that does not give them an excuse to not do so.As for the alternatives you offer for those journalists who are willing to step outside the box do those options really exist in Kenya and if so do they put food on the table?There are very few alternatives for journalists in Kenya who want to do the “right” thing.
As for your last para about what the press should be I do remember learning them during my lectures and their are few if any newpapers that have achieved the ideals that are set fourth there.If they are point them out to me.
Nice post gives us something to think about……