I painstakingly try to follow the panel discussing the state of Kenyan journalism, in one of the local channels.
The journalist and communications consultant are vibrant in their assessment, and articulate their views passionately, with believable conviction.
But when it comes to the turn of the media scholar, the contribution tends more towards the obviously simplistic, and annoyingly commonplace observations.
And it's not helped by opening statements such as, "I like what so and so said."
In actual fact, the other panelists appear to be more knowledgeable than the PhD holder.
A doctorate is earned by contributing to the existing body of knowledge, I would want to believe.
So, I ask, where is the original contribution, or relevant theoretical frameworks, when media academics dissect pertinent matters affecting the Kenyan media sector?
Just how much research is done on Kenyan media? How many books are published annually? Do papers presented in local journalism fora end up in revered journals?
You often hear laments about the quality of journalism training in Kenya, and the lack of facilities or or proper equipment.
The calibre of media trainers is no doubt also a major contributor of the inadequacies permeating through Kenyan newsrooms.
Eradicating the rot will depend a lot on those at the top!
