Monday, November 17, 2008

Media Coverage of American Elections

The Kenyan media seems to have come of age, at least going by the enthusiastic coverage that the American elections got. For the first time in a long time, a number of stations sent senior reporters and editors all over the States.
KTN had Opondo, NTV had Basset Buyukah and Joe Ageyo in Europe, CTV had Alex Chamwanda and Louis Otieno, DN had Macharia Gaitho and Warigi Gitau at some point. Kiss FM had Maina Kiai who was also doing features for NTV. We had the usual correspondents like Kevin Kelly for DN, Mulaa for EA Standard. Is this a new beginning for media houses? Yes they have been sending Sports Writers and Editors to Olympics, All Africa Games, Commonwealth games to cover our own athletes etc, but political and business stories have not been given many resources.
When the President goes abroad, he may take one or two journalists from the private media houses, but generally he is given coverage by the Presiential Press Service (PPS). There is need to think seriously about the role of independent journalists. Business understands that and KQ will not hesitate to put 50 local journalists on an inaugural flight to Istanbul or some other such destination. The Obama and Mc Cain campaigns were accompanied by loads of journalist on their official planes. The same jounalists would be moving between the campaigns at ease. Can we learn something here? Our politicians believe that you can only allow a journalist near you at your own peril.
KBC still drawing from national coffers has recently placed a tender for OB vehicles. Of course technology has changed so much that their ubiquitous two-trailer OB trucks are now outdated. KTN is running their OB from a land rover, NTV and CTV from vans. Kudos to our media.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The Obama Album