[kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections

Mon Mar 11 13:16:14 EAT 2013

You completely misunderstood my point. Edith talks about Kenyan media, and
a feeling of being silenced. That's NOT a discussion of foreign/Western
media (who are not actually all the same, and many of them have done
excellent reporting work - but as I said, a different discussion).

On 11 March 2013 13:12, Sammy Buruchara <buruchara at me.com> wrote:

> Andrea,
>
> I am surprised that you do not know much about the practice of western
> media in reporting for Africa in general and Kenya in particular. I would
> be forthright that they do not report anything positive and lavish it much
> when there is violence for then there have much for the media
> channels. This is no secret
>
> Unfortunately this time there was not much to report about. Yet there were
> isolated incidents of media reporting inflammatory about certain events
> during the election process. Judging by the headlines of some of the UK
> media clearly they were more ambitious than the situation on the ground was.
>
> The era of Kenyans relying on western media for sensational news is gone.
> Our local media has matured and come to understand the importance of
> fostering peace and growing our nation. We cannot expect this to be done by
> people from outside. And the beginning of this process is providing
> balanced sober and accurate information on the ground, without raising
> tensions on very delicate issues or at delicate moments of our history.
> In the last 2007, there pictures of violence everywhere. The realtime
> reporting only managed to fan the violence even more in other locations
> making it difficult for the security organs to contain.
> It is this chain reactions to sensational reporting that we are against,
> whilst respecting the liberty of Kenyans.
>
> Regards
> Sammy
>
> From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt at ratio-magazine.com>
> Date: Monday, March 11, 2013 12:31 PM
> To: <buruchara at mac.com>
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
>
> Sammy, I don't understand why you reference Western media - this had
> little to do with them.
> Edith raised the important point that many Kenyans found themselves
> speechless and voiceless. It's an issue worth addressing, I think. I fully
> understand that in the Kenyan context, the media houses agreed not to
> broadcast political party statements live. But between that, and a
> wholesale silencing of any critical voice, there might have been some
> ground to look at claims, check if you can find anything to debunk them
> instantly or substantiate them, and then report on this.
>
> Have a good week, everyone,
> Andrea
>
> On 11 March 2013 12:18, Sammy Buruchara <buruchara at me.com> wrote:
>
>> Edith,
>>
>> With due respect, I disagree with you.
>> Western governments always preach this kind of liberty that gives license
>> to all kinds of inflammatory information that agitate people yielding the
>> 2007 type of reactions.
>>
>> Whatever the views of people, we must not use the tools of mass
>> communications to incite people to wanton killings in the name of liberty.
>> Even the Western media in their home countries have a code of conduct that
>> includes delayed transmissions during major event such as Super Bowls or
>> even their own elections.
>>
>> How was the media call for peace a tool of "oppression"?
>> I frankly hold a different view and believe that our media has done us
>> proud. Kenya has structures of government and communication and any
>> aggrieved party has avenues for redress without spread of malicious and
>> unconfirmed rumors that lead to violence and loss of life.
>>
>> Sammy Buruchara
>>
>> From: Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca>
>> Date: Monday, March 11, 2013 11:34 AM
>> To: Sammy Buruchara <Buruchara at me.com>
>> Cc: KICTAnet - Media Editors Forum <mediaeditors at lists.kictanet.or.ke>,
>> KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>> Subject: [kictanet] Role of the Media in Kenyan Elections
>>
>> Listers,****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> For the 2007 elections, Bwana Ndemo is on record here (KICTANET)
>> condemning the role of the media in fueling the violence.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> In 2013, the media played a different role. If you now reflect back –
>> deep and hard – it occurred to me that  the over-rated, over-hyped,
>> over-done "call for peace" was actually a "tool of oppression"!! ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Why do I say this? Many a Kenyans found themselves speechless and
>> voiceless….you were not given a chance to speak your mind, to question, to
>> freely air your opinions or liberally reflect on the going ons.  You were
>> promptly slapped with the "peace call” which immediately silenced you! Why
>> should I feel silenced by “a call for peace”? Our national anthem talks of
>> “peace and liberty”, what happened to “liberty” during this period?****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Most Kenyans locked themselves in their houses, scared stiff of the
>> unknown. Reflecting back it was truly a "silence tool".****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> In my view, what is going on in Kenya is God’s birth of a NEW KENYA. It
>> is NOT (and I repeat NOT) about THE WINNER or THE LOSERS (Do NOT get me
>> wrong – I don’t mind about that). It is about laying a NEW FOUNDATION for
>> Kenya that is built on TRUTH (RIGHTEOUSNESS) and JUSTICE, especially during
>> this Jubilee period (50 years of our existence as a nation as we enter into
>> the next 50 years – the next Jubilee). ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> From now on, and as our national anthem aptly states, JUSTICE will truly
>> be our SHIELD and DEFENDER. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Sustainable peace (not FALSE PEACE) is built on the foundations of TRUTH
>> (righteousness) and JUSTICE. ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Reflective Edith****
>>
>> * *
>>
>> *Quote: I should like to be able to love my country and still love
>> justice (Albert Camus)*
>> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or
>> change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/buruchara%40me.comThe Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for
>> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
>> development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
>> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
>> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
>> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> kictanet mailing list
>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>>
>> Unsubscribe or change your options at
>> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40ratio-magazine.com
>>
>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>
>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
> Publisher
>
> www.ratio-magazine.com
> www.africa-assets.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or
> change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/buruchara%40mac.comThe Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for
> people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable
> behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
> bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect
> privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>

-- 
Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
Publisher

www.ratio-magazine.com
www.africa-assets.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20130311/56049c47/attachment.htm>