[kictanet] Economic sabotage via FAKE NEWS

Tue Jan 15 15:45:50 EAT 2019

 Indeed Barrak. The 2010 constitution, despite its weaknesses, is a great starting point for establishing our national values (Article 10). I think the implementation is where things really got mixed up. 
For example:
1. At some point Article 10 compliance got associated solely with government jobs / tenders
2. National values have been "844-rized" and are measured primarily via paid-for certificates from different issuers (extrinsic indicators) - rather than having a track record within the society that shows consistent values-aligned behavior (intrinsic indicators). Were national values demonstrated and maintained by person X even when it would have been inconvenient or unprofitable? - for example...
3. The fact that corruption continues unabated means that the certification system is a failure - which is not surprising as values are held in the heart - not on paper.
One of the things that contributes to lack of political will in implementing the national value system is our society's support of elitist leadership (which creates a parallel society for elites which insulates them from consequences of broken values systems). 
To solve the parallel society problem, what would happen if:
1. All staff in the ministry of housing had to live in Kibera / mukuru / dandora etc with all their families until the problem of housing was solved? 
2. All staff in the ministry of education were compelled to enroll all their children in public schools? Would public education improve? 
3. All government staff (at all levels) were reimbursed for medical *only when* they use public hospitals, and Government not to cover  private medical care? Would health sector problems be solved?
4. All government officers (except the President and deputy) to experience traffic jam without resorting to privilege shortcuts? Would urban planning improve?

etc.. etc...
Our leaders don't live in the same Kenya as everyone else - and the people seem to be very satisfied with that arrangement yet that is a big contributor of the problems and misplaced priorities that we experience in Kenya!
Patrick.

    On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 2:58:34 PM GMT+3, Barrack Otieno via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:  

 Hi Patrick,

Many thanks for the thought provoking write up. Propaganda or fake
news as we would want to marinate it nowadays is as old as the media.
It has always been used to gain advantage over real or imaginary
adversaries. What holds nations together and propels nations forward
are value systems. Most countries that have solid economies have very
strong value systems. Unfortunately , it is not cool to talk about
values in the current century. Values are needed to maintain the
discipline required to achieve Strategic Plans and Vision. Look at
Vision 2030, there are three main pillars (www.vision2030.go.ke)
1. The Economic Pillar
2. The Social Pillar
3. The Political pillar

Do we have values that can help us achieve any of the aspirations
listed under the pillars?, your answer is as good as mine. Someone has
to place the reset button.

Regards

On 1/15/19, Victor bwire via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> Interesting views..
> The media is not rogue...they are laws to deal with excesses by the
> media.....
> And when it's fake, it's not news
>
> On Mon, 14 Jan 2019, 23:42 Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke wrote:
>
>> [long post - but interesting topic]
>>
>> Hi Listers, There is a new target for weaponised information (i.e. fake
>> news / propaganda): The Economy.
>>
>> It is increasingly apparent that "Fake news" can be (and is being) used
>> to
>> sabotage and/or derail an entire country or region's economic agenda by
>> (local and/or foreign) parties intent on furthering their own interests
>> at
>> any cost to the targeted country or region, and the media seems to be an
>> unwitting (or unconcerned?) participant.
>>
>> Some of us may have already noticed a critical flaw in the "free media"
>> business model. It is viewership (not the quality of stories) that drives
>> their revenue. Now one would expect viewership and quality to be strongly
>> correlated but that thought does not factor human nature.
>>
>> Majority of people gravitate towards entertaining / controversial /
>> shocking / shaming subjects. Very few people care for deep, broad or
>> complex analysis of the real issues especially if the conclusions are not
>> sensational.
>>
>> Even fewer search for multiple viewpoints before drawing their own
>> conclusions. They would rather trust the author to have done sufficient
>> balanced research and analysis (which is often far from reality e.g. due
>> to
>> time constraints associated with "breaking" or "exclusive" news models).
>>
>> So *controversy* (not information) is what sustains media houses in
>> democratic countries globally. Consequently this has made them easy
>> targets
>> for targeted disinformation campaigns. As much as the media claims to
>> have
>> a code of conduct or editorial policies, we see all over the world
>> evidence
>> that media (and/or journalism) is not free of overt/covert bias. In Kenya
>> we have the open secret of "envelope" or "eWallet" journalism for
>> example...
>>
>> Is "Free press" an illusion? How can a media house be free when its
>> shareholders demand endless growth in profits - something that can only
>> be
>> achieved by "giving people what they want" (not what they need)?
>>
>> Which media house will publish a story that potentially upsets a major
>> advertiser? Can they refuse millions from deep pocketed international
>> lobbyists to spread propaganda (provided there are legal loopholes to
>> evade
>> treason, libel or other forms of accountability)?
>>
>> Critical thinkers will agree that nowadays the media (worldwide) are
>> informing less and manipulating more...and it almost looks deliberate (no
>> wonder the uptick in conspiracy theories globally!).
>>
>> The hidden (but harmful) impact of this is increased *mass ignorance*
>> within populations at the very least, with other potentially worse
>> implications (e.g. spread of unfounded fears or hate targeted at certain
>> groups).
>>
>> Fake news is particularly insidious and destructive when the economy or
>> development agenda is targeted for sabotage. To the average person, it
>> looks like harmless gossip or sensational chatter from "concerned
>> (usually
>> faceless) groups" but if you consider the consequences in monetary terms,
>> e.g. if truly beneficial projects be abandoned, delayed or scaled down
>> for
>> invalid or unjustifiable reasons, then there is a massive cost that the
>> taxpayer will ultimately have to foot. What looks like fierce competition
>> between geopolitical power players in pursuit of *their* interests can
>> end
>> up completely derailing an otherwise promising economic agenda of the
>> targeted country/region.
>>
>> Should local media be held accountable for the consequences of
>> facilitating economic sabotage  that is commensurate with any harmful
>> impact of the fake/distorted/half-truth stories being told?
>>
>> I value press freedom but I think all freedoms are balanced with some
>> kind
>> of equitable accountability (such that A's freedoms don't harm B's
>> rights).
>> It is not the media that feels the pain of irresponsible reporting, its
>> the
>> MSME business people whose opportunities for growth get limited, or
>> hardworking employees whose taxes (or costs of living) go up as
>> government
>> scrambles to raise funds in a booby trapped economy. Meanwhile the
>> controversy / fake news fuelled media shareholders laugh all the way to
>> the
>> bank.
>>
>> The bigger picture for all of us, no matter our role in society, is to
>> try
>> contribute (within our abilities) towards peace, progress, democratic
>> ideals, better standards of living and economic prosperity. I think it is
>> irresponsible for one party to exercise its rights just for the sake of
>> it,
>> without regard to impact on other people's rights (e. g. to have a
>> stable,
>> predictable and growing economy).
>>
>> What do you think? Is the western model of "press freedom" failing? Share
>> your thoughts.
>>
>> Brgds
>> Patrick A. M. Maina
>> (Independent Public Policy Analyst)
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-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254733206359
Skype: barrack.otieno
PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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