The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has asked journalists reporting from parliament to leverage digital tools to enhance their work.
Speaking at the National Assembly’s engagement workshop with members of the Kenya Parliamentary Journalist’s Association (KPJA), MCK Director for Media Training and Development Victor Bwire said that the global change in the media landscape has created a shift in journalism, enabling journalists to play a dual role of reporting and production.
“The use of digital technology has become a key tool in communication. This has brought the pressure for journalists to be equipped with the skills and equipment to share live updates,” he said while presenting at a session on Digital Media Strategies for Political Communication.
Mr Bwire mentioned the growth of print journalism, which he attributed to the rising need for information.
“We are currently experiencing a rise in print readership due to the ability to give the audiences long reads,” he said.
He further made reference to converged newsrooms, noting the influence of digital technology and news production on mainstream media.
Mr Bwire implored journalists to be wary of what they post, noting that it may have negative repercussions on their lives and careers.
“Before you post on social media, make sure that what you are posting is true and backed with relevant credible sources. The information being shared must be helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind to the audience,” he urged.
He urged the journalists to remain vigilant when presenting political messaging, saying that external forces could easily manipulate the information. He encouraged journalists to fact-check and undertake research on other channels as well as journal articles.
Mr Bwire called on the National Assembly to create guidelines for Artificial Intelligence for the journalists. This, he said, alluding to the digital emerging tools and the ethical challenges around them.