A team from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) visited the department of English, Literature, Journalism and Mass Communication on 8th September 2021. MCK is an independent national institution established by the Media Council Act, No. 20 of 2013 for purposes of setting media standards and ensuring compliance with those standards as set out in Article 34(5) of the Constitution and for connected purposes.
Among the discussed issues was the importance of maintaining the standards of Journalism and explore the different areas of collaborations available between the MCK and KIBU. It was agreed that there is a need to increase the capacity of journalism students, media practitioners and practicing journalists in media houses especially in issues of specialized reporting. Specialized reporting includes reporting in themes such as climate change adaptation, children rights, trauma and politics.
The Journalism students benefited from this session as they got to address questions that they had concerning MCK. MCK team used this forum to expound on the functions of MCK to the students which includes: promoting and protecting the freedom and independence of the media; prescribing standards of journalists, media practitioners and media enterprises; ensuring the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the performance of their duties; promoting and enhancing ethical and professional standards amongst journalists and media enterprises; advising the government or the relevant regulatory authority on matters relating to professional, education and the training of journalists and other media practitioners; setting standards for professional education and training of journalists in consultation with the relevant training institutions; developing and regulating ethical and disciplinary standards for journalist, media practitioners and media enterprises; accredit journalists and foreign journalists by certifying their competence, authority or credibility against official standards based on the quality and training of journalists in Kenya including maintaining a register of journalists, media enterprises and such other related registers as it may deem fit and issuance of such document evidencing accreditation with the Council as the Council should determine; conduct an annual review of the performance and the general public opinion of the media, and publish the results in at least two daily newspapers of national circulation; table before Parliament reports on its functions through the Cabinet Secretary (responsible for matters relating to the media); establish media standards and regulate and monitor compliance with the media standards; facilitate resolution of disputes between the government and the media and between the public and the media and intra media; compile and maintain a register of accredited journalists, foreign journalists, media enterprises and such other related registers as it may consider necessary; subject to any other written law, consider and approve applications for accreditation by educational institutions that seek to offer courses in journalism; and perform such other functions as may be assigned to it under any other written law.
In conclusion Department of ELJMC and MCK are working towards a partnership that will increase the lease of knowledge, expertise, and resources available to make a better breed of journalists for greater impact.
