Media students from various institutions of higher learning have benefitted from a mentorship session with veteran journalist Ken Bosire.
Bosire, a renowned media professional, worked as a print journalist, editor, and writer for top Kenyan newspapers such as The Star, The Standard, Daily Nation and People Daily.
The event was held at the Kisii Press Club (KPC) on the outskirts of Kisii town, with the Club’s Chairman Joshua Araka also attending the session.
Speaking during the session, Bosire challenged the students to demonstrate their media knowledge and abilities in writing, editing and publishing stories.
“As a journalist, you need to demonstrate commitment and consistency in your work by being able to communicate, have knowledge on a wide range of topics and have a nose for news,” he said.
The veteran journalist engaged the students, who are currently on attachment in various organisations, in discussions around their experiences in the field so far.
Bosire emphasised the importance of students becoming multimedia journalists as opposed to focusing on a specific field.
“You need to be a journalist who is capable of interacting with and producing content for television, radio, print, and online platforms,” he advised.
The veteran journalist reminded the students of the ethical standards in journalism, adding that recording or photographing minors without parental or guardian consent is a violation of both journalism ethics and the law.
He further encouraged the upcoming journalists to build strong networks, maintain language proficiency, and most importantly, always tell the truth.
“In this field, you must have credible sources, fact-check information and verify it before publishing, and remember that there is no such thing as ‘fake news’ – it is either misinformation or disinformation,” Bosire stressed.
Additionally, the veteran journalist highlighted the role of the Media Council of Kenya, noting that it is responsible for accreditation, policy-making, and training.
He encouraged the students to make use of the Media Hub, which offers free mentorship and training programmes to young journalists.
On his part, Araka stressed the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in newsrooms and media production.
“AI is not here to take your jobs; in fact, when used responsibly, it becomes a valuable tool, just like generative AI in graphic design,” said the KPC Chairperson.
By Wesonga Dancan and Willis Moturi
