The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) is committed to collaborating with the office of the Mombasa County Director of Communications to empower journalists and public communication officers on devolution reporting.
MCK Mombasa Regional Coordinator Maureen Mudi has lauded the critical role played by communications teams in counties by ensuring access to information to facilitate journalists’ work.
“Public communicators need to update themselves on what makes news in the media industry so that they can work seamlessly with journalists in providing relevant, timely and expandable information,” said Ms Mudi at a meeting with the Mombasa County Director of Communications.
She mentioned that the Council, through her office, will endeavor to work closely with the county to ensure support for grassroot media to enhance their sustainability.
She noted that the move is aimed at advocating for media literacy and access to information as a way of promoting media freedom and independence.
Mombasa County Director of Communications Diana Ngao assured the Council of their support through the Governor’s Press Unit.
Ms Ngao further pledged to work with other media stakeholders and prioritise access to information to minimise conflict between journalists and county officials.
“We appreciate MCK’s role in the region as key player in the media industry in the Coast Region. I call upon the regulator to support the county’s efforts to reach out to journalists”, she said.
She intimated the county’s efforts towards enhancing media sustainability for local media stations through advertisement. She also stated that they have been working on clearing pending bills for both local and national media houses.
The two institutions agreed to roll out formal visits and monthly roundtable with journalists in the region to obtain views from media managers and journalists on areas of collaborations in April.