CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 finalists announced

The finalists in the 17th CNN MultiChoice African Journalist competition were announced on 18 May 2012, by Ferial Haffajee, chair of the independent judging panel. This year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. 18 May 2012 11:49

World Press Freedom Day: How technology impacts journalism in Kenya

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] The world has dedicated one day in a year to scribes 3rd May. This is World Press Freedom Day. According to the United Nations, it is a day that "celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession". 4 May 2012 11:53

President of Kenya urges media to be objective

The president of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki has challenged the media to demonstrate objectivity, balance and sensitivity in news coverage, particularly in the period of competitive politics in the country, in the countdown to the general elections, taking place in 2013. 3 May 2012 13:23

NMG's 11 rules of political advertising

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] One way politicians will market themselves is through media advertising. The Nation Media Group (NMG) has already set the rules as far as political advertising is concerned in the lead up to the general elections, expected to take place in March 2013. 17 Apr 2012 13:00

Can you hear your brand?

[Lars Deutsch] Audio Branding comes to Africa... Audio branding, also known as sound branding or sonic branding, is the use of sound to reinforce brand identity. Sound branding is increasingly becoming a vehicle for conveying a memorable message to consumers by taking advantage of the powerful memory sense of sound. 16 Apr 2012 12:08

Social media piles pressure on mainstream press

[Catherine Karongo] The growth of social media has brought with it challenges that have forced media organisations to change their operations. 8 Mar 2012 12:57

Election year and media agenda setting

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] Michael Joseph, the former CEO of Safaricom, once described Kenyans as having peculiar calling habits. According to a recent media survey by Ipsos Synovate, Kenyans seem to have another peculiar habit, watching news. The quarter four Kenya Audience Research Foundation (KARF) report shows over 80% of Kenyans read and watch local news. That news is politics. 7 Mar 2012 10:03

KBC workers take strike to day five

Nairobi: Striking Kenya Broadcasting Corporation workers demonstrated on the streets of Nairobi on Sunday, 4 March 2012, seeking audience with prime minister Raila Odinga. 5 Mar 2012 11:33

Media Council furious at morning show

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has initiated disciplinary action against one of the country's top radio show for airing offensive material to an inappropriate audience. 9 Feb 2012 13:01

UK firm to boost climate change coverage in EA

[Walter Wafula] WRENmedia, a United Kingdom-based a specialist communications company is set to sharpen reporting skills of journalists covering climate change issues in Eastern Africa, according to Susanna Thorp, director of the firm. 3 Jan 2012 09:07

Research shows radio is king in Kenya

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] The latest media research from Kenya reveals that radio is still the preferred media. According to latest statistics from media research company, Synovate conducted under the Kenya Audience Research Foundation (KARF), radio leads in overall media consumption followed by the mobile phone, television, newspapers, and the internet respectively. 12 Dec 2011 13:58

Time to rethink Kenyan radio

[Philip Mwaniki] Let's be honest, the glory days of Kenyan radio are behind us. What we have now is pure experimenting based on research and market forces. Segmentation is the in thing today. 5 Dec 2011 13:45

Germany to promote budget reporting in East Africa

[Walter Wafula] Germany's International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) is set to train East African journalists on covering public spending to improve reporting on national budgets and the use of tax payer's money. 7 Sep 2011 10:01

Kenyan scribes get training on election coverage

[Carole Kimutai] Internews, an international media development organisation has launched a media programme aimed at equipping Kenyan journalists on covering elections. The 'Free and Fair Media' training programme is intended to promote the growth of developmental journalism that allows media to set the agenda that is futuristic, offers solutions to societal challenges and mitigates conflicts situations. 29 Aug 2011 08:21