MCK in bid to strengthen journalism training

Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo. He wants the council to handle the case. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Omwoyo said the Media Council of Kenya will soon open offices in counties for ease of enforcing regulations.

The Media Council of Kenya will begin crackdown on colleges offering substandard journalism courses.

“We will be very decisive on colleges offering media studies on their courses and duration. We want to standardise media training in line with other professions,” chief executive officer David Omwoyo said on Thursday.

Mr Omwoyo said the efforts will see those wishing to pursue journalism courses apply through the council.

Speaking during a media forum in Eldoret, Mr Omwoyo said the profession has been invaded by quacks who are giving journalism a bad name.

“We will no longer allow people who have not stepped into a newsroom to train journalists,” he said.

FAKE NEWS

Mr Omwoyo said the agency will soon open offices in counties for ease of enforcing regulations.

He said fake news is among the major challenges in the media profession and called on journalists to be cautious.

“Always verify before posting anything online. Right is better than first. Everything you post will become public.”

While condemning the harassment of journalists, he asked media houses to avoid fuelling hate speech.