TRAGEDY OF MEDIA AGGRAVATING TRAUMA OF CHILD VICTIMS

Children. Media. This combination presents a challenging proposition to journalists. Thrown in trauma and matters get really dicey. That is why one news reporter was recently navigating through very choppy waters, when she elected to tell the Tana River tragedy from the perspective of child victims.



Whereas thinking out of the box is often something that should be applauded, using minors to depict a very complex web of deadly violence was, to some extent, pushing the barriers towards intolerable territory.

One kid was actually being quoted saying something close to, 'then they started killing each other.' How, pray tell, is a child expected to accurately process such mentally disturbing scenarios, before even relaying the same to a journalist?

This is where I think, the best interests of the children caught up in the Tana River violence, override whatever novel and noble intentions of the news reporter.

And because children enjoy absolute privacy, then it is in their interest that their identity is protected and their trauma is not exacerbated by undue media exposure, which essentially makes them relive their horrifying experience.

After the news crews pack up and go, these kids have to continue with their life, the misery notwithstanding, and it's really unfair to only look at them as subjects of a good TV report.

A GEM AGAINST THE GRAIN OF MEDIA MONOTONY

If asked what I can remember about the latest by-elections in Kenya, my answer will not be anywhere near the details of who or which party won, which parliamentary or civic seat. It will entirely have to do with one elderly man and his simple desire from the whole electoral process. Shoes.

Courtesy of a most refreshing television report by NTV Kenya's Pamela Asigi, the monotonous coverage of the mini-polls by Kenyan media outlets, did not leave an ever-lasting obnoxious after-taste.

Just check out the sampled reactions below, for a confirmation of the sterling job that Pamela did.

WHEN CCTV FOOTAGE DOES NOT JUSTIFY TV CRIME REPORTS ENDINGS

Surveillance video footage, as captured by CCTV cameras, is increasingly being used by Kenyan TV stations, to illustrate crime reports. But there is need to get over the excitement of seeing the criminals at work and basing entire news stories on this factor. Why the element of surprise and yet the CCTV cameras were designed to do exactly that?

Such is the weaknesses of such news stories that opportunities to probe the 'captured crime' further, are painfully allowed to pass, which reduces the news to mere visual entertainment.



Take for instance, the Citizen TV story, about how a major supermarket chain was losing a colossal amount to 'thieving Kenyans' masquerading as customers.

The management availed CCTV footage, which the reporter used to 'great' effect, describing with military precision, how the rapacious 'clients' were going about with their diabolic activities.

What was lacking though, after one sifted through all the descriptive narration, was some bit of much needed interpretation of the situation, apart from quantifying the loss the supermarket was making.

For such a reputable chain store, one would want to believe that all the products on the shelves are barcoded or that at least the pricey items are electronically tagged. Moreover, it would also be safe to expect that sensors have been placed at the entrance of the supermarket chain in question. These would in turn easily set of an alarm, should any item leave the premise, without passing through the cash tills.

And if all these 'basic' security measures were missing, then that is where the news story was, given that the supermarket involved is not your ordinary corner-shop. But this 'obscure' angle, never seemed to have warranted any attention from the TV reporter.

Yet another similar crime story was featured by another Kenyan channel, Kiss TV. Granted, the footage had some dramatic ending. But in terms of asking hard questions, it fell into the same trap.

The pattern of 'suspected' criminals staging daring thefts, most probably in the full knowledge that CCTV cameras are in operation, raises pertinent issues that journalists need to help address, even as they strive to give some professional depth to their stories.

Instead of being as reactionary as the owners of businesses that have fallen victim to 'smooth operators' in the crime underworld, the reporters should especially, in my opinion, start making this often over-looked point.

It's all well and good to invest in CCTV cameras. But it makes a whole world of a difference, if a deliberate effort is made to ensure somebody is monitoring the footage, as it is being recorded, so that any 'captured' suspicion is promptly interrogated or apprehended, in real time!!!

DECONGEST CONJESTINA'S MEDIA MOCKERY

It's in the public interest, especially for Kenyans to realise just how low one of the country's renown female athlete has sunk. But in highlighting her plight, the media should not abandon ethical considerations like upholding her right to privacy, as an ailing person. The press should help Conjestina Achieng' get help but please, don't ridicule or make a mockery of her condition.

It was disturbing to watch one channel over-emphasise Conjestina's most recent case of mental instability, despite it having already been established, courtesy of another local TV channel.

Was it that necessary to air the 'extended' clips of the one time champion pugilist, primarily to showcase the fact that she's incoherent in her speech and actions?

Is this not being insensitive to the thousands of others afflicted by the same condition and debasing an already dire situation faced by Conjestina? The media should not add to the already heavy burden of those caring for or struggling to get support for mental health patients.

I honestly hope that journalists will back off and probably just concentrate on assisting Conjestina to get all the help that she requires, whilst safeguarding her inalienable rights as a human being.

And just like it one day dawned on the Kenyan media that it no longer served any useful purpose to give copious coverage to politician Stanley Matiba, after his health became an issue, Conjestina should now be allowed to recuperate with dignity and privacy.

OF SISTERS OF DEATH & LEADING OTHERS INTO TEMPTATION

It was a brilliant and well-told piece of investigative journalism. But the Sisters of Death went overboard in one aspect. After the shocking expose of how illicit brew was now being laced with ARV's, there was a strong element of leading others, especially the criminally inclined, into temptation.

There is almost always an underlying danger, when the media over enlightens the masses about a vice, to the extent of appearing to glorify the same vice, by elaborately empowering others to execute the very same vice.



So yes. The NTV Investigate piece unearthed the very chilling business of concocting illegal alcoholic drinks, using ARVs and other dangerous ingredients. But a step-by-step depiction of the process involved, I feel, is veering off into dangerous territory.

This is a commercial venture and somebody is making some money, albeit illicitly. There's no telling if any other desperate soul, and those who are out to profit by whichever means, could have been nefariously inspired to carry out a similarly diabolic scheme.

All they needed to do was note down, the ingredients and processes, before applying the same, or making their own equally devastating variations. And in case they missed out on some 'gory' details, there was a repeat of the Sisters of Death, ironically due to popular demand.

An attempt was made to ward off potential legal suits by blurring out the labels of the alcoholic drinks. But sadly, it appears no thought was given to the domino effect of thrusting all the minute details of the harmful trade into the public domain.

Then there is the small 'non journalistic' matter, of wanting to know just how did the reporter manage to convince the Sisters of Death to open up, under the glaring eye of the camera. There was no indication that the expose was filmed undercover.

Who would willingly allow the media to highlight an illegal activity that could well put them on the not so rosy side of the law? Thankful, the press is professionally compelled to protect sources.

FROM THE CURSE OF KASS FM TO THE BLESSING FOR KASS TV

KASS TV recently celebrated one year of broadcasting. I once in a while tune in, intrigued by the audacity of a media house to venture into TV transmission using a vernacular language. But Kenya has largely been unable to harness its ethnic diversity, allowing the differences to fuel divisions. And it's this curse, which KASS FM has been associated with, that KASS TV needs to guard against.

It was interesting to follow a KASS TV discussion recently, (which unusually was in English), about the role of the media in ensuring the Kenyan nation remains a cohesive unit, especially in times of elections.

Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I hoped the discussants would touch on the pending case involving a KASS FM journalist, at the International Criminal Court, in relation to Kenya's 2007/8 post election violence.

That was clearly a long shot and a wild expectation, as the host and the guest steered well-clear of this hot topic, understandably due to contractual pressures and its attendant spirit of self-preservation.

However, this to me was a missed golden opportunity to re-assert the media house's commitment to proper journalism practise, in the full realisation that any credible media outlet should not allow itself to be (mis)used to attain narrow, selfish interests at the expense of the greater public interest.

So, can KASS TV discharge its envisioned mandate, in an environment that is still poisoned by tribal-based politics and other elements of negative ethnicity?

I think it's possible, but with a strong rider that its editorial policies need to be sober and alive to the potential dangers of being used to antagonise Kenyans, especially those that fall outside its target audience.

SERVE THE TV LAUGHTER, BUT HOLD THE VOMIT

Visual assault. Highly distasteful and insensitive. That does not even begin to describe the disgusting clip aired by a popular Kenyan television station, in an early morning broadcast. What the producers of the show or the editors were probably thinking would be hilarious, turned out to be very nauseating!

I can stomach, (with difficulties and regular bouts of indigestion), the numerous grammatical mistakes and elementary spelling errors, common on local TV stations. But not when the channels disregard their audiences' sensitivities

There I was trying hard to multi-task by taking my breakfast, while at the same time concentrating on the morning show of this particular TV station.

And just as I'm about to swallow a thoroughly chewed piece of peanut buttered bread, the person on the screen, pours out the contents of his guts on this poor lady he was conversing with, and follows it up with a truly despicable encore.

Now, it is all well and dandy to try and liven viewers' mornings, using hilarious and at times bizarre YouTube clips.

But before you decide to broadcast a video clip involving vomiting, please hold that thought, pause and reflect.

Are tolerance levels that universal, when it comes to watching somebody launching an inter-intestinal, stomach to mouth puke nuke?

As for me and members of my household, that will be a polite, 'Hell No!!'