- The current instability and massive layoffs in the media in Kenya have very little to do with professional production and redundancy as we are made to understand.
- They are economically motivated and have everything to do with mismanagement, corruption and unethical business conduct by some media managers and owners.
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It is a tough time for many journalists in Kenya.
The media industry, just like the rest of the world, is going through a challenging time technologically, economically, and professionally.
These hurdles call for a deeper reflection by all and sundry.
The current instability and massive layoffs in the media in Kenya have very little to do with professional production and redundancy as we are made to understand.
They are economically motivated and have everything to do with mismanagement, corruption and unethical business conduct by some media managers and owners.
Journalists are just being sacrificed.
Uncertainty over innovation such as Artificial Intelligence, a hostile business environment, denial of advertising revenue, credibility and trust issues, and unethical behaviour by some journalists among others are threatening the sector.
Several media outlets are coming up with innovative ideas to raise revenue.
This includes in-depth public interest content, cost-saving interventions and fundraising.
The purely economic and factory management approach to running the media business has pushed journalists to the brink.
News has become a product for sale, and investors want huge returns from the enterprises at the expense of news that has public value.
Journalists ascending to positions of management in news organisations are being asked to go for training and further studies in business management rather than journalism.
In several media houses, the editorial, which is the core business of the companies, is the most neglected compared with advertising or commercial departments.
You will be surprised at how much resources are wasted on noncore issues- abandoned equipment, offices, studios and printing equipment, vehicles, and related.
It's useless for journalists to be writing about corruption and other ills in other sectors when it is worse in the media.
Media must clean its house and embrace accountability, human rights, and best practices in economic resource management.
Journalists must start talking about the running down of media enterprises by managers, who then sacrifice journalists to keep their companies afloat.
Procurement mismanagement, white elephants and poor investment decisions are the order of the day in media companies.
Quick prudent decision-making is lacking and journalists are equally frustrated.
Similarly, journalists should now move and separate the commercial interests of their employers and the professional ethics on which they were trained.
We must, while serving the interests of our employers, work on ensuring and holding ourselves to professional standards.
Kenyans are largely taking a very punitive approach to rein on the media.
Everyone seems to be blaming the media for all manner of evil and some journalists seem to be succumbing to the pressure- by either doing purely public relations stories or abandoning newsrooms.
The legal environment and the mob justice approach to dealing with journalists have seriously exposed the media to threats.
The current onslaught on journalists calls for an urgent awakening amongst scribes to reevaluate and improve media professionalism and accountability within the industry.
Above all, they should improve the working environment for media practitioners in the country.
The media must work towards creating solidarity and a common agenda to not only reduce the divisions in the sector but ensure that media issues are part of the national agenda.
This will ensure a conducive environment is created for the media to play its role in national development unhindered.
As media criticism takes shape and is welcome, Kenyans must be aware that not all people carrying cameras, recorders and notebooks are professional journalists
Many are mere cons and brokers looking for money.
Press conferences are often parked to capacity, fake interviews are done and at the end of the day, no story is done
Angry sources after failing to see the articles promised will accuse the media of all manner of things creating a very hostile working environment for professional journalists and other media workers.