The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has underscored the importance of setting standards to align with the emerging trends in the media industry.
MCK Director, Media Training and Development Victor Bwire has said that the Council is mandated to set standards by developing a curriculum for journalists training in line with the evolving media landscape.
Mr Bwire also mentioned that the Council will collaborate with institutions of higher learning to ensure the adoption of the curriculum for further training in their institutions.
“The curriculum targets practicing journalists for progression, especially on the emerging issues that were not taught in school. We aim to also work with institutions of higher learning for further implementation”, he said at a Validation of the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy Curriculum for Journalists webinar.
The Director encouraged the journalists to take a keen interest in the opportunities provided by emerging technologies and their impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Universal Health Coverage, the Digital Super Economy, and affordable housing.
He said that doing so would not only enhance the watchdog role of the media but also shed light on public interest issues on government spending.
“There is a huge potential in the digital superhighway and digital economy. Journalists should focus on solution-based stories that highlight the digital superhighway, cyber optics, and the Information Communication and Technology agenda to open up the country to foreign investments”, he added.
He also reiterated that journalists should come up with structured stories that show how technology has impacted the country while bringing out the gaps, and opportunities to set out an agenda.
Mr Bwire affirmed the Council’s commitment to roll out training and grants programme for journalists to create a pull of specialised journalists who can authoritatively report on the digital superhighway and creative economy.
United States International University (USIU) Trainer, Professor Joseph Nyanoti urged journalists to stay ahead of industry trends by keeping abreast with new technologies.
“To prepare for this shift, journalists should familiarise themselves with the curriculum on the digital economy and the creative sector which aligns with the Kenya Kwanza Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda”, he said.
Nyanoti further explained that the curriculum aims to enhance journalists' understanding of the digital superhighway and creative economy, develop their skills for accurate and impactful reporting and explore internet technologies and storytelling tools.
He mentioned that the new curriculum will focus on the following units, Introduction to Digital Superhighway, Creative Economy, E-services, Wi-Fi and Digital Hubs, Jitume Labs, Affordable Devices for Digital Inclusion, Youth Empowerment- Economic Opportunities in the Creative Sector and the Ethical and Legal Considerations-Regulatory Frameworks in Digital and Creative Industries.