The Media Council of Kenya continues sensitising the public on the power of information and the place of the media in highlighting matters of public interest.
The Council recently held a media and information literacy session in Kisumu County to the public, civil society groups, National Government agencies, faith-based organisations and media professionals.
MCK Director for Media Training and Development Mr Victor Bwire said the essence of the media and information literacy sessions is to restore public trust in media through sustenance of the cardinal principles of truth and professionalism “in a world inundated with information overload”.
“This is achievable through competencies acquired that help equip citizens with critical thinking skills, enabling them to demand high-quality services from media and other information providers”, said Mr Bwire.
He added that journalism transcends the principles of accuracy, fairness, integrity and more importantly factual reporting and verification of information.
“Journalism is not fiction and journalists must endeavour to use verification process to sift through information and draw the line between journalism and propaganda”, he said.
MCK’s Assistant Director for Training and Curriculum Development Ms Christine Nguku said the disruption of the media industry calls for corresponding changes in journalistic norms and practices.
She added that collation and dissemination of information has also transformed, hence the critical need for collaboration between journalists and news sources to ensure diversity and reporting based on public interest.