Journalists have been urged to utilise their collective efforts to enhance professionalism and to effectively undertake their role.
Busia Governor Dr Paul Otuoma says the media plays a critical role governance, adding that this can only be possible with a free media.
“Media plays an important role in the governance of our country. It is through the media that members of the society can know themselves, communicate with each other from an informed perspective and know the happenings of the outside world”, said Dr Otuoma during the official launch of the Busia Press Club and the Busia Media Hub/ Digital Content Production Centre in Busia town. The media hub has been set up by the Media Council of Kenya as a press freedom initiative.
He encouraged local journalists to utilise the facility to transform the media landscape in the county and to widen content gathering and monetisation.
“Urge you to make use of theses spaces to connect and collaborate on impactful stories that resonate with the community, while upholding professionalism at all times”, he said.
He lauded the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) for taking the initiative to open similar platforms across the country, noting that the media hub will offer journalists a conducive environment to undertake their rightful role.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo affirmed the critical role of safe working spaces for journalists in promoting professionalism in the media, saying that press freedom is founded primarily on a safe working environment and reasonable and fair working conditions.
He noted that journalists’ ability to work in associations, collaborate and share ideas is a real challenge in the newsroom that can be addressed through initiatives such as press clubs and media hubs.
“The unnecessary contest occasioned by the scoop mentality of old newsrooms where journalists compete to break stories before the other is no longer expedient. It is important that journalists work together for common good”, said Mr Omwoyo.
He said the launch of the media hub is important as it will do away with challenges of collaboration as well as address mental health issues by providing journalists with a dedicated space for fostering collaboration and open communication.
“The media hub will encourage journalists to share ideas, work together on projects and support each other in a competitive and often stressful environment”.
Mr Omwoyo said that through the media hubs, the Council aims to provide a safe working environment for all journalists in the region thus promoting press freedom, journalists’ welfare, journalists’ safety and protection and responsible journalism.
He urged journalists to fact-check their stories, urging them to ensure that the stories they produce are factual in an age of misinformation and disinformation.
He assured the journalists that MCK in collaboration with the County Government will work to give the press club and media hub enough life through provision of training opportunities, workshops and mentorship programmes.
Busia Press Club Chairperson Mr Joseph Abuje commended MCK for the initiative and encouraged journalists to make use of the press club to advocate for their welfare.