[kictanet] Media Council Draft Bill 2010 (Day one discussion)

[Grace Githaiga]

Dear All 
 
Thanks Walubengo, Khisa, Cook and Toby for your insights. And just a quick response to each of you:
 
 Walu, Yes there is a media policy in place that was passed just before the KCA Act of 2008. Unfortunately I do not have a copy and I have checked at the Ministry of Information website. It is also not available. But the MCK Bill has a basis on the media policy in matters of regulation. So, we are on the right track. There is a media council in place. I will not judge its success but I do know it has continued to receive complaints from the public. It also has conducted several trainings aimed at professionalizing the media.
 
Khisa, the MCK is one form of control mechanism. There is also the broadcast Advisory Council (under CCK) where ordinary people can lodge in their complaints/concerns on news and programmes.
 
Hook, I apologize on that repetition. It should actually read… "interests of all sections of society". Please find attached a soft copy of the MCK Bill 2010 for ease of reference. You can also access it on http://www.information.go.ke. On your suggestions to re-phrase it to capture common morals and ethics, this number 2 is in Article 34 (5) of the constitution. At this point, we can only make suggestions on the MCK Bill and not on the constitution. But lets see if there are possibilities of capturing your concerns in the subsequent dicussions. 
In regard to content on some of the FM Stations, there is a Broadcasting Advisory Council to take care of this. And this is in addition to MCK which deals with complaints regarding media conduct. We will be discussing the composition of the Council on day 4 (Thursday this week). I can already tell you that religious leaders are not proposed. However, it would be important for you to make contributions on which other professions should comprise Council Members.
 
Toby, I agree with your sentiments. However my understanding is that a constitution is only meant to provide guidelines. The specifics can be spelt out in the Act. And yes some concerns you have raised about registration of journalists will be dealt with later in the week. We hope to see your reflection(s) on this. 
 
Thanks a lot people. Please lets hear more from the rest of the listers. 


And just a reminder of today's discussion:
 
 
The purpose of the Media Council Bill:
 
An Act of Parliament to provide for the realization of the right to freedom of expression and freedom of media; for the establishment of the Media Council of Kenya; for the conduct and discipline of journalists and the media, and for connected purposes.
 
Article 33 of the Constitution provides for Freedom of Expression, while Article 34 provides for the freedom of Media. Further in Article 34, sub article 5, it states...Parliament shall enact legislation that provides for the establishment of a body which shall:
 
a) be independent of control by government, political interests or commercial interests;
b) reflect the interests of all sections of society; and 
c) set media standards and regulate and monitor compliance with those standards.
 
We welcome responses/reflections to the following: 
 
1.      Is the purpose (as stated above) satisfactory, or should it be enhanced to reflect the provisions in the constitution?
2.      Is this proposed Media Council best placed to perform and fulfill this purpose?
3.      Will the proposed Media Council enhance professionalism and growth of media in Kenya?
 
  		 	   		  
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