The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has underscored the impact of information and digital literacy on media consumption.
MCK Kisumu Regional Coordinator Teddy Evans says regular media information and digital literacy sessions remain key platforms to enable users to understand dynamics that have come with digital revolution.
“Media information and digital literacy helps individuals to critically understand the nature, techniques and impacts of media messages and productions. To survive and thrive in a digital media space, we all need to know how to access, use, understand and engage with the digital media to our full potential”, Mr Evans told a media information and digital literacy stakeholders’ sensitisation forum held in Bungoma County.
MCK Manager for Accreditation and Compliance Rebecca Mutiso emphasised the need for competence among journalists when carrying out their duties. She also underscored the critical place of accreditation in promoting press freedom.
“Responsible professional journalism requires that journalists are duly accredited by the Media Council of Kenya as this helps in accountability and credibility. The Council has implemented new security features on the press cards as a way of streamlining industry operations. I encourage you to take advantage of this process”, she said.
MCK Senior Officer for Research, Planning and Strategy Jacob Nyongesa urged the participants to strive towards being accurate by verifying information before disseminating it while seeking access to information.
“The authenticity and credibility of information accessed through various platforms can be ascertained through fact-checking. Basic fact-checking skills are now essential for all irrespective of your career or work stream”, said Nyongesa.
Bungoma County is one of the counties with a high number of media outlets in Kenya and the engagement was timely as a platform for creating public awareness, advocacy and public participation on media.
The forum brought together representatives from the office of the Deputy County Commissioner, Mt. Elgon, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, civil society, media, faith-based organisations and the National Police Service in Bungoma who pledged to work together.