LIVE EVENTS, JUDGEMENTAL AUDIENCE AND DEMORALISING REPORTERS

Understand the key facts. Narrow down the angles of the presentation. Then when the cue comes, remain calm, look straight at the camera and talk the viewer through the salient points of the news story. Everything is supposed to come alive, when you go live.  But that is often not the case in the life of a broadcast journalist. In the middle of a live event, the audience should not demoralise reporters by being too judgemental.

The intention is to be professional but the outcome may sometimes not profess broadcast brilliance.

This is especially so, when caught up in a tension-packed event like a terror attack.

The basic tenets of questioning an interviewee can hibernate to the remotest corners of the psychic plane, and what comes out can dangerously border on blatant violations of ethical standards.

Even fort the most experienced, the path to a clean and professional presentation is littered with so many potentially debilitating elements.

It could be a very firm realisation that English is not your first language, and this added pressure could make it even harder for one's brain to seamlessly translate thoughts coming through in mother tongue, bearing in mind that the tape is rolling and the feed is also live on air.

The loss of composure could translate into a seemingly uncontrollable flow of sweat, with the eyes fixated at the camera lens, and the neck tie feeling like an ever-tightening noose, in full public glare.

Relaying live pictures of security operations seeking to rescue lives from imminent peril is frowned upon.

And so should live streaming of destructive social media criticism that ends up demoralising reporters trying their best to keep the public informed, and much more, despite the evident danger.

TV NEWS, STAR PERSONNEL AND THE WRITING ON THE CAMERA LENS

Broadcasting stations in Kenya have raised their rivalry a notch higher. And this has in turn sparked a scramble for star talent, perceived to be critical in curving a competitive advantage. But there's a growing need to re-engage the audience, because a personnel-centred approach in TV news can only deliver so much. The writing is on the camera lens.

In these 'post-millennial' days, it was surprising that the above live cross with the 'seasoned' reporter/editor, had to be aborted on account of such an elementary technical challenge.

As if the battery status message appearing on screen was not damning enough, the news production crew allowed the live signal to continue, until the camera gave up the ghost, leading to an on air freeze.

It's likewise important then, not to ignore any indication that a channel could be deviating from its core functions.

Enough with 'Tanite' and its associated TV foolery, and let's get focused on the needs of the viewer.

A station may opt to bring together a star-studded team to enhance the delivery of content.

If the content is wanting, however, no amount of 'fine' delivery would compensate any lack of serious substance to offer the audience.

May 'tanite' find its way back to 'tonight'!

ABSENTEE JOURNALISM AND A LEGISLATOR'S ABSENCE

Journalists are known to go to great lengths to get details of a news story. This means, travelling to the other side of the world, or risking lives and limbs, is but an occupational hazard. It's therefore baffling, to see Kenyan media being so reluctant to get relevant facts of a story within their reach. A legislator's absence in Parliament, continues to be amplified by absentee journalism.

This particular issue of a Member of Parliament seemingly 'not keen' on fulfilling the duties that come with winning an elective seat, has been in the public domain for months.

The local media, it appears, is only content with re-establishing this basic fact, and the possible consequences of skipping parliamentary sessions continuously.

The press has nevertheless been tracking the development of this story, perhaps it being a matter of great public interest, with the latest update being the petition by the affected constituents, seeking to have the parliamentary seat declared vacant.

But...

Seriously...

For scribes' sake...

Isn't there a 'brave' journalist or editor, with a nose for news to smell one missing element in this story?

What does the Member of Parliament involved have to say about this issue? Has anyone tried to contact him? Could he have valid or justifiable reasons for skipping parliamentary sittings?

Is he okay?