The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) and Internews have reaffirmed their commitment to boost journalism skills and safeguard media freedom in Kenya.
The two organisations have this morning signed a working pact that will spearhead a joint effort to foster a free, ethical, and dynamic media environment through coordinated actions and mutual support.
MCK CEO Mr David Omwoyo affirmed the significance of media outlets transitioning to the digital sphere, citing its potential for sustainability and monetisation.
He also urged the media to scrutinise policy matters affecting the industry amidst sectoral changes.
“The media industry faces a myriad of challenges that require concerted efforts by all stakeholders. This then calls for genuine mapping and identification of problems to devise feasible solutions”, he said during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with officials from Internews.
He advised the media houses in Kenya to project a unified front when engaging with major tech companies to tackle sector-specific challenges.
Internews Country Lead and Regional Programme Manager Ms Fatuma Sanbur echoed the objectives of the pact, underlining the shared responsibility of both organisations in its execution.
“The signing of the MOU signifies our dedication to collaborate and leverage resources for the benefit of journalists, thereby enhancing media freedom in Kenya,” she remarked.
The pact will focus on training and outreach activities, provision of technical support in the production of media law reviews and policies, drafting of reporting guidelines, and manuals, exploring funding opportunities and collaborating on one-time events among others.