[kictanet] KCA advises on safety for Journalists in the front line

[william janak]

Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA)

South C, P.O. Box 7438, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.

+254-2- 2632122, Email: kenyacorrespondents11 at gmail.com


Website: www.kca.or.ke 

 
Nairobi, Kenya.

October 30, 2011.

MEDIA RELEASE:     

For Immediate Release:

 
KCA ADVICES ON SAFETY FOR JOURNALISTS IN THE FRONT LINE


Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) has today called on 
journalists covering the war against Al Shabaab by Kenyan security 
forces, both along Kenya’s border with Somalia and deep inside that country to mind their safety and to act in solidarity.


KCA noted that formal war reporting was a new phenomenon for Kenyan 
journalists most of whom had never gone through safety trainings on how 
to conduct themselves while in the frontline.

“We urge our 
colleagues in the frontline to be mindful of their safety and act with 
utmost care in the ongoing war against the Al Shabaab militants. This 
advisory also applies to all our colleagues who may be assigned to cover
 incidents of terror attacks within the country, said Oloo Janak, the 
KCA Chairman.


Janak noted that the militants had in the past targeted journalists 
in Somalia in their operations and had little respect for media people 
who, because of Kenya’s intervention in Somalia, “may treat Kenyan 
journalists as legitimate targets”.


He called on all journalists to work closely with the security 
personnel and abide by any reasonable safety instructions as is the 
practice in the coverage of conflict situations world wide.

“We 
need to recognize that Kenyan journalists currently involved in covering
 the war against Al Shabaab are as important as the soldiers and we call
 on the media fraternity to offer them the necessary support including 
messages of solidarity and encouragement,” he said.


Janak emphasized that the media outlets for which the journalists 
deployed to the frontline are working and the government, are duty bound
 to offer them the necessary logistical support, rapid safety briefings 
and guarantee them security while in the field. 


He called on the journalists to exercise a sense of responsibility 
and fairness in the coverage of the war to avoid any possibilities of 
creating false feelings of victory, alarm or despondency at home that 
could lead to xenophobic attacks against Kenyan Somalis.


At the same time, Janak said, while some of the concerns by the 
military about some of the media reports were legitimate, the media 
could not be turned into a propaganda tool by both the military and 
government and it was important that the security agencies and the 
government give regular and factual updates to inform accurate reporting
 by journalists.



For further information and inquiries, Please contact:

KCA Secretariat: kenyacorrespondents11 at gmail.com, info at kca.or.ke


Tel: +254-20-2632122, +254-72269792

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