[Kictanet] Re: Burning and Closure of Standard Media Group

[Mike Theuri]

Without disagreeing with the opinions expressed, perhaps one should 
seek to formally define what "irresponsible reporting" is. The article in 
question had times, places, names and dates. The writers even sought 
comment from the parties involved and published the story, they appear 
to have done their research and have their facts together and also included 
the denials from the parties or their representatives of those involved in the 
said meeting having been diligent enough to seek comment from the 
concerned parties. 

Just merely denying an established fact does not make the person who 
established the fact "irresponsible". To the best of my knowledge the 
newspaper has not retracted the story and none of the aggrieved parties 
(the state not being one of them) has filed libel suits in which case the 
"accused" would have a chance to show how they established their
facts or face the consequences. 

It may have gone unnoticed, but this is the second raid against a media 
establishment the first having been against the Citizen last week. The 
Citizen's articles were more inflamatory in my opinion and did not seek 
comment or denials from the aggrieved parties.

In short let us not be keen to condemn the "accused" for irresponsibility
if they have not been given a chance to demonstrate how they 'established'
their facts. This is not to say that there are not irresponsible journalists 
amongst the media fraternity. Infact there are some who will willingly 
accept money to publish stories on behalf of certain parties or entities in 
order to gain popular public opinion or swing it in disfavor of another.
 
The police claim that they received information on what appears to have
been a matter to take place in the future, why not simply arrest and charge
the individual who had received the funds ? As outlined below by Brian, 
several questions remain unanswered, but hopefully at the end of the day 
the AG will not seek to terminate or frustrate any cases related to the 
matter until they reach their logical conclusion.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Longwe" <brian at pure-id.com>
To: "Mike Theuri" <mike.theuri at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 6:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Kictanet] Re: Burning and Closure of Standard Media Group


I'm afraid on this one I agree with Wainaina - if it weren't for the  
irresponsible reporting there wouldn't have been opportunity (or  
excuse) for this kind of "retaliation"

Having said that, though, I think that this is going to provide our  
government (which is currently undergoing some very pleasing reforms)  
an opportunity to really curtail and/or limit police actions.

The incident yesternight raises several fundamental questions:
1) did the police have a court order to enter premises?
2) had they requested (and been denied) access to the premises?
3) Did they have a court order to confiscate any equipment?
4) Did they have authority to use force?

I would be very interested to see an estimate from the Standard Media  
Group in terms of business loss - considering the $$$$ they charge  
for advertising, both on air and print.... would be even more  
interesting to see who their lawyers decide to hold responsible and  
send the bill to...

I hope they don't back down and actually mount a full frontal to get  
to the bottom of this...

There are definitely some people somewhere who need to answer...

Brian