VALUE SUBTRACTION IN MEDIA CONTENT

The motivation to find and disseminate meaningful information in Kenya's mainstream media, is perhaps withering, in the wake of the digital migration standoff. If there's no guaranteed audience, why bother and worry about the content? Consumers should be bracing for value subtraction in media content.

The same editorial rigour from days gone by, though not always consistent, appears to be lacking in copious amounts, in the content published (and quasi broadcast) by local news outlets.

It might have been a 'dry' day, but that notwithstanding, the, 'Bid to rename city roads after county bosses' story should not have been published, without giving it a frivolous context.

That the editor thought it fit for consumption by rational newspaper readers, in the form presented, is scandalous, to say the opposite of most.

Sample this warped self-worth sentiment by one MCA, as captured in the story:

'Mr. Speaker, some roads in Lucky Summer have no names and it would be a good thing to have my name on one of them'

Such a quote reflects the morbid obsession with mediocrity that has been taking over local newsrooms.

It's hard to tell the difference between the reasoning by some Members of County Assembly, and the newspaper publishers.

In other words, they both seem to think the naming of city roads after public servants in the county assembly, is an important issue, worth our shillings and sense investment.

That's where I draw the line. If you don't condemn then you condone!

UNPARDONABLE SIN AND 50 SHADES OF INSENSITIVE JOURNALISM

Everyone is allowed to hold an opinion. But this does not negate the need to respect other people's views. If journalists happen to also have an opportunity to publish their opinion, a measure of restraint is required. And if you mix Godly matters with your criticism, be wary of the unpardonable sin, as you practise your 50 shades of insensitive journalism.

You may have reservations about the decision to ban a film, based on what in your estimation, constitute flimsy and untenable grounds.

But why not just entirely dwell on the material facts, instead of singling out the personal attributes of the perceived decision maker, as if there's no institution he's representing?

There's little value addition in using a false dichotomy to defend your position, and amplifying the perceived irony of a bishop having to decide whether a film has pornographic content.

Then comes the usage of a trope that is heavily laden with insensitive religious 'overtones' in advancing the argument:

Yes, a bishop heads the body that classifies films in Kenya and decides what is approved for public viewing. He probably comes straight from Bible study to a board meeting, still levitating from the power of the Holy Spirit

This is not only demeaning to majority of the faithful in Kenya, but comes dangerously close to illustrating a perfect timing for the use of fire and brimstone!

Some would say it's an unpardonable sin.

I call it 50 shades of insensitive journalism.

CONFINED CONVERGENCE-THE CASE FOR CLICKABLE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

For a related story, click here. For more details, follow this link. These are useful additions to an online news story. Hyperlinks after all, are a distinct feature of web-based articles. So what is a reader expected to do with a link published within an article in a...newspaper? Is it a case of convergence taken beyond reasonable confines?  Or we should confidently say it was an error?

That may be so, but it does raise some issues, away from riding on the innocent mistake, to err is human type of defensive mechanism, which by design is meant to insulate against any deriding by critics.

Can one conclude that journalists do their research before penning articles?

Yes.

Can one conclude journalists base their stories on what has been posted on the Internet and properly attribute?

Yes.

Can one conclude journalists pass on other people's online ideas as their own print creations?

Y...

That's where convergence needs to be confined. Where there are multiple sources of the same original thought.

In an online platform, hovering above a passage of text could reveal if that particular section was copy-pasted, because the link somehow gets embedded in the process of lifting the material.

The plagiarism might be invisible to the eye, but it's quite noticeable to a computer mouse pointer.

Makes you wonder what would happen, when it becomes possible to hover over all articles in a newspaper.

Do I hear an Amen for future clickable newspaper articles?

HORROR OF A TV NEWS HOWLER

To err is human, agreeably. But some errors threaten to defy the forgiving confines of humanity. Hardly a week after I pointed out the need for broadcast stations to pay closer attention to their lower third story tags, Kenyans were treated to yet another horror of a howler in a local TV news channel.

Depending on the newsroom system in place, a number of people could be responsible for scripting the information titles. The News Editor/Producer could formulate the first draft, given that they have gone through and possibly polished all the scripts.

A superior Editor or even the Managing Editor could then make changes and give the final approval, before the story tags are put on air.

Alternatively, where there's an advance newsroom production system, a Scriptwriter can incorporate the story tags in their scripts, which are then submitted together for sub-editing and final approval.

Admittedly, even after these editorial checks in the broadcast news production process, involving multiple players, errors still find their way on air.

That's why the Computer Graphics people, News Director and other personnel in the studio gallery, being the last line of defense, need to be always alert and ready to act immediately such an error is spotted.

In case of any doubt, it's better to remove the story tag, than to have it remain on air, as a decision is sought about its appropriateness.

Being extra vigilant keeps embarrassments at bay...ALL THE TIME!!