Media and Civil Society Strengthening – Page 3

ONE MINUTE PROJECT -WESTNILE

The One-minute aimed at empowering youths in refugee settlements as well as their counterparts in the host communities with skills and knowledge in film production, media and communication. The skills will prepare refugee youths and youths in host communities to be able to tell their own stories and stand out beyond the narratives that are often presented in the media.

To enable this move, the youths were given resources to help with their learning and also produce their own films. These included Ipads configured with video editing software. With these, the youths can record and edit video and audio footage. These Ipads, among other resources, will be left available to the youths even after the project is over, such that they can carry on producing films to express themselves and tell their stories to the world.

Project One-minute is funded by Creative-Force-Swedish Institute, a Swedish agency engaging other countries in information, culture, public life among others, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government to reduce poverty in the world. Project One-minute is facilitated by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

KENYA MEDIA WEEK 2018

Kenya Media Week 2018 was a Grand Three Day Event that included presentations, panel discussions and exploration of media opportunities with Kenya’s leading journalists, researchers and key media stakeholders. They shared their insights and reflections on the future of Kenya’s journalism and media trends.

The first of its kind media gathering brought together great minds from the world of academia and media. Some of the speakers included Patrick Gathara, a renowned Kenyan journalist, cartoonist, blogger, and author, Swaleh Mdoe, ranked as one of the best Kiswahili news anchors in Kenya, Dr. Wambui Wamunyu, head of Media studies at Daystar University, Patience Nyange, Senior Human Rights Officer, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Jessica Musila, Executive Director, Mzalendo, Johnson Mwakazi, Founder, The Royal Voice, Terry Anne Chebet, CEO, Fanaka TV, Luke Kizito, Founder Signs Media, Marren Anot, Business Manager, Standard Media Group , Njeri Kirieni, Media and Research Consultant, Kenya Audience Research Foundation, Shitemi Khamadi, Bloggers Association of Kenya, Catherine Gicheru, Country manager, Code for Kenya, Christine Nguku – Kenya Editors Guild among others.

This national media conference sought innovative solutions to emerging challenges facing journalism in combating fake news, sustainable funding models for and addressing democracy. It took place on the 12^th of September 2018 to 14^th September 2018 at the Kenya Cultural Centre, Nairobi.

The discussions were extended online and were happening under the hashtag #MediaMattersKE and #KenyaMediaWeek. The hashtags trended in Kenya on twitter for the 3 days.

A detailed publication of the event and all that was discussed can be downloaded from this website at the Resources section. Read and download here.

THE 2018 ANNUAL KENYA MEDIA WEEK LAUNCHED

CONCLUSIONS OF THE KENYA MEDIA WEEK 2018

Television, Radio and newspaper media have been urged to stick to its ethics of verification, in depth analysis and fact checking in order to preserve the truth in journalism and countering fake news. Additionally, the media has been urged be creative in order to boost its survival by investing in research to fuel innovation. That was the conclusion at the Kenya Media Week held last week at the Kenya Cultural Centre, Nairobi.

“Rather than rushing to publish a story. Check the facts and gather data before publishing. Data journalism, fact checking and investigative journalism are taking shape as journalists and media combat fake news,” said Judy Bisem, researcher, MSci. Project Management, Jomo Kenyatta Univeristy of Agriculture and Technology.

WORK ACROSS MEDIA

During the event, there was also a call for journalists to exploit the opportunity presented by the current competition caused by friction between mainstream media and the robust growth of social media. An opportunity to work together across the media.

“We do more work when we (the media industry) collaborate as opposed to all of us trying to do our own thing. The current and new generation of journalists, have gained on the benefits of greater collaboration to make quality news content,” Dr. Wambui Wamuyu, lecturer, Daystar University.

There were more calls for the mainstream media to ensure news reporting remains for the public good and accessible to all.

“Media is an important tool of democracy but they might not be aware of the power they possess in enlightening the people. Media needs to understand its role in promoting democracy,” Jessica Musila, Executive Director, Mzalendo.

“Instead of setting the agenda, media is now following the government’s agenda,” said Julia Wanjiku, journalist, KBC radio.

OVER 160 MEDIA EXPERTS ATTENDED THE KENYA MEDIA WEEK

The inaugural conference which brought together over 160 media experts; journalists, media researchers, journalism students and interested parties for three days of debate and discussions is expected to be an annual event to keep abreast and prompt innovation in the media sector.

“I have learnt so much about fake news especially the solution being simple, verification. Additionally, the government hasn’t given so much space to media. It doesn’t provide information and facts to the media, “ said Leyian Wallace Mootiun, KBC Radio journalist.

“Kenya Media Week is quite an initiative. The selection of topics attracted the participants. The kind of questions and structure of the conference is exactly what the media is currently facing and talking about. I have learnt so much from the participants and my fellow panelists,” said Anthony Makokha, Digital Media Editor, Nation Media group digital.

“I have been following the conversation online for the last two days before coming here today. It has been very intriguing. I hope we can continue the conversation and not let it end here, but use the ideas and solutions discussed can be really used to improve our sector. I strongly believe that this interaction between experienced journalists and new/upcoming journalists will shape the future of the media,” said Emmanuel Yegon, founder, Mobile Journalism Africa.

The organizers of Kenya Media Week, Media Focus on Africa in partnership with National Endowment for Democracy and experts in the media, have confidence in the value of bringing together media research and industry experts to move the media sector forward.

“We are going to do a publication of all the research papers presented and feedback received over these couple of days,” said Simon Gicia, Communications Officer, Media Focus on Kenya.

MEDIA ROUNDTABLES

From 2011 to 2019, MFA organized media roundtables that sought to examine the role of media on various issues, in conversations with media stakeholders, civil society, government officials, legislators, policy makers and the general public. Every year, the roundtables focused on a subject that MFA felt was of great public interest and could result in great public good if covered well by the media. Themes ranged from Media and the Constitution Implementation Process , media reporting of county budgets and county expenditure, media and ethnicity, media coverage of women aspirants during electioneering periods, plus many more. The goal was to promote accountability and responsibility of media practitioners, open media to public participation and build bridges between the media and the different groups mentioned above with the aim of better information sharing.

Watch various insightful Media Roundtable discussions on our YouTube page. Here and Here

The Roundtables were supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and NED, and conducted in partnership with the University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SOJMC), Media Institute (MI), Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG), Alliance Française and the Kenya Institute of Media and Communications.

MS PRESIDENT REALITY LEADERSHIP TV SHOW LAUNCHED

Media Focus on Africa has opened the application process for a leadership TV reality show “‘Ms. President’” a series which will inspire women and girls to become key players in leadership in all spheres of life. The TV show will also aim to change the attitude of Kenyans towards women and leadership.

The applications opened on the 5th June 2018 and can be downloaded online via https://www.mediafocusonafrica.org/project/ms-president. The launch of applications was presided over by His Excellency Stefano Dejak the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Kenya. The applications will close on July 27th 2018. Applicants can also express interest by accessing forms from the producing organization, Media Focus on Africa through mspresidentkenya@gmail.com.

In Kenya, as in most of Africa, women are usually not found in leadership positions. They are not generally perceived to have the skills, knowledge or social status needed to bring about meaningful change in post-conflict environments.

Kenya has the least representation of woman in the East Africa region despite the two thirds gender rule provision in the constitution of Kenya 2010. Currently in the National Assembly female MPs make up only 22%, 31% in the Senate and only 6% of the Governors. “Ms President” aims at building sustainable female leadership capacity in Kenya by showcasing articulate, intelligent, fair-minded women who are “presidential candidates”.The series will increase the possibility of women in Kenya being called upon to take on leadership positions.

“We are not looking for beauty queens we are looking for #women who are leaders. It’s not just putting women on TV but putting them though leadership training and mentorship” said Frenny Jowi, Project Office, Media Focus on Africa.

The inspiration to produce the “Ms President” reality series in Kenya originated from the Palestinian Ma’aan Television Network, highly popular program ‘The President’, which involved choosing a young Palestinian to be the next Palestinian President.

Kenya’s Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender representative was at launch.

“The women who make it into the programme must be the best version of us. We would like to work with all the women that will apply for the program as the Ministry of Gender” – Lydiah Mathia, advisor to CS Ministry of Gender Kenya.

The European Union that is funding the program by Media Focus on Africa was also present at the launch.

‘No human society is fully developed without women taking the central place. Women need to prepare for power .’ – EU Ambassador Stefano Dejak.

P♀WER 2017

A project combining Radio drama, radio talk shows, Training, community leader’s discussions and college debates on women leadership, with the goal of increasing women representation in elected posts in the 2017 General elections. The project whose official title was “Spotlights on Women Aspirant Leaders at County Level” was implemented together with FIDA Kenya. In particular the focus was Member of County Assembly (MCA) and Governor sit. The project targeted Mombasa, Kajiado, Narok, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nyandarua and Kisumu Counties. The project incorporated three strategies: Strategy 1: Motivating & building the capacity of women to run for the seat of Governor and MCA; Strategy 2: Creating an enabling media environment for women leadership; and Strategy 3: Raising awareness on the need for women leadership

Out of a target of 80 women in the counties MFA focused on, 10 were elected. 9 as MCAs and one as Deputy Governor.

MEDIA & COUNTY BUDGETS ACCOUNTABILITY

MFA partnered with The International Budget Partnerships (IBP) to implement a project that involved building the capacity of county based journalists to understand and report effectively on County budgets as well as report on local government spending so as to ensure it is transparent and improving the lives of County residents. Over the course of three years and covering seven counties namely Taita Taveta, Nyandarua, Busia, Kisumu, Narok, Kitui and Baringo, MFA also organized county roundtable discussions intended to bring together players from the county executive, county assembly, civil society organizations, the media and the public to discuss the roles of these players in the county budget process and how they can all work together for the success of the counties. The project was funded by FORD Foundation and The National Endowment for Democracy.

LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN 2012

In preparation for the 2012 general elections, the 1^st election under a new Kenyan Constitution, MFA conducted a Leadership campaign with special attention to Chapter 6 of the Constitution (Leadership and Integrity), new leadership structures and devolved governments. National leaders, civil society representatives, traditional leaders, as well as ordinary citizens were invited to participate in radio and television programmes to discuss issues that were important to their counties and subsequently the type of leadership required to address these issues.

This campaign resulted in the production of 15 small documentaries with examples of good leadership, 15 community leadership dialogues, 16 talk shows for national television and 80 talk shows for radio.

The Television show dubbed ‘Michakato Majimboni’, a fancy way of saying ‘County Dialogues’ in Kiswahili can be watched here. The Leadership Examples Documentaries can be watched here.

CROSS-GENERATIONAL DIALOGUES

Before the 2012 elections in Kenya, MFA and Search For Common Grounds (SFCG) organised a series of inter-generational (youth-elderly) and inter-ethnic dialogue sessions in 16 locations across the country. The social dynamics in most African cultures work in a way that the elders decide while the youth implement. But having empowered the youth in the past years, we found it necessary to include the elders in the dialogue sessions and in the process get them to support the youth as they take more direct decision making roles in the communities., more so pertaining to the upcoming elections.

TRAINING FOR QUALITY (TZ)

For Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) MFA implemented a training programme consisting of short training courses in basic skills and newswriting and online and investigative journalism for correspondents. The training programme was targeting correspondents working for the local media. Short training courses and review days were complemented with a 4 month mentorship programme: with personal coaching, review meetings with mentors, personal assignments, press conferences and a 2-week internship. MFA partnered with the International Center For Journalists (ICFJ). Joachim Buwembo, a rewarded journalist and knight fellow from the International Center for Journalists, supervised the mentor programme. The training programme was supported by an online platform for peer-to-peer learning and mentoring.

Results

http//mediaup.tmf.or.tz online trainings platform
24 students trained in investigative and online journalism, basic skills and newswriting
600 articles were posted on the online platform
18 correspondents accomplished the short courses and 4-month mentorship program
5 front page articles in national newspapers