By D, KNA
The Media Council of Kenya is committed to supporting press clubs and associations in a move that will ensure journalists’ sustainability and viability within their profession.
Speaking during an engagement with Tharaka Nithi Press Club members, the council’s regional coordinator Mr Jackson Karanja said MCK support is meant to help club and association members to carry out other beneficial businesses for their own good.
“Time and again we have witnessed a shrinking media space and that is the reason we are stepping in to assist journalists and give them ability to create something for themselves,” said Karanja.
“We call on the beneficiaries to come up with sustainability models that will keep them in business beyond tomorrow,” the regional coordinator emphasised.
He engaged the journalists on issues related to professionalism, accountability and integrity, reminding them to always work within the professional journalism guiding principles.
“We are living in times when journalists are required and requested by law and the society to ensure the information they are taking out to members of the public is accurate, transparent and verifiable,” said Mr Karanja.
He added that at the moment where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has infiltrated all sectors, journalists have the great responsibility to ensure the information they release is accurate and verifiable.
“We are calling on journalists out there to ensure the information they are relaying is verifiable and goes beyond mere reporting,” said Mr Karanja.
He also called on stakeholders to allow journalists to work, adding that at times journalists have been threatened in their line of duty including being harassed to levels of being injured in their line of duty.
“It is a call from MCK to stakeholders to ensure we continue protecting our journalists remembering that the constitution under articles 33, 34, and 35 give them power to do their day-to-day activities without unnecessary interruptions,” said Mr Karanja.
Tharaka Nithi Press Club Chairperson Alex Njeru thanked the council for the support it has been according to them since the Covid times.
“We want to thank the council for the financial and material support they have been giving us which has enabled us to wade through the murky waters of our profession,” said Mr Njeru.
He acknowledged that there are various challenges that journalists have been facing including lack of pay from their employers but the council has been supporting them.
“We look forward to the council’s continuous support from the council so that we can be strengthened, since there are challenges and that we will not change our profession,” said Mr Njeru.
He added that they will use the resources from the council to ensure members are enabled to perform their duties.