Kick Out Rogue Radio Journalists

Time to Go

Kick Out Rogue Radio Journalists

Some careers were not designed for pretenders. I mean the people who go and squat at the workplace and let someone else do the work as they wait for salary at the end month. They do not encourage masqueraders. You’ve got to do your assignment and its impact be felt or better still be seen. Such is what modern journalism is.

Sadly, the noble call to public interest service is not devoid of half baked, unbaked and undeserving practitioners. The only other career which I know that tolerates this kind of in and out movement is teaching. Where job-seekers cool their tarmacking soles thinking about fresher pastures ahead.

You know journalism and teaching are cursed. The rightful professionals are crowded out when the HR Managers adopt stop-gap measures. And all this is selfishness. Tell me why media houses will hire drop-outs, jokers and pretenders without a clue about the basic journalistic codes of conduct. Having a voice and looks is never enough to be a media practitioner. Parents and children are embarrassed by pornographic breakfast shows when the untrained media personalities take to the studios.

I will tell you two reasons which I think are the major factors for the continued stay of comedian journalists in our airwaves. First, it is because they have influence. They sway the audience. They are wanted by media managers so that they can attract listeners. When the requisite numbers are reached, the media houses sell the audience to advertisers. No wonder that such personalities secure plum endorsement deals with companies. In return, they are paid well by both advertisers and their employers.

But this comes at a cost. A heavy cost indeed. There are obscene portrayals of women, glorifying cheating escapades and utter disregard of what media professionalism stands for. You cannot listen to such morning shows with your mother. Unfortunately, there are mothers making premium calls to these broadcasters. This begs the question, surely who are these ladies really? Are they the same who do not want to imagine what their daughters do while they are away? What about the millions of men who sustain these illicit bedroom romps? Do they have families? The stakes cannot go higher. It is a delicate dilemma. Mobile service providers have no qualms charging stratospheric call rates to their loyal clients. They think they are the Caesar who must receive tax at whatever cost.

Then there are these sweeping interjections, pauses and unsolicited advice. Since the broadcasters target young adults like the single youths, the latter are misadvised by backstreet journalists. “Marriage does not work. He cheats so she does too. Virgins don’t exist. Road test is a must before I put a ring on that finger. His money is ours but my money is mine only. It is God’s command for men to provide.”

The above utterances are convenient for the proponent. They hurt the other party. They encourage discrimination, sexism, gender inequality and infidelity.

True, the society is patriarchal and no man can stop the worldwide awakening of women. But where is the moderation? Why go overboard and wash your dirty linen in public? Don’t you have any other forum to solve your personal issues privately?

Still on the RiverRoad journalists: They profess knowledge of anything and everything controversial. They imagine they know everything and are ready to offer help to desperate listeners. They are not psychologists but will guide and counsel stressed spouses on air. They are not doctors but will prescribe medicine for the listener’s loneliness. Poor ear! Methinks you cannot rule out stage-managed plays colluded by the media and listeners in a bid to manufacture content. Are listeners coached to answer appropriately to questions?  Is it just hot air or there is a genuine problem that will erupt to suicide, homicide or genocide if not arrested? Is it a ticking time bomb that will explode anyway?

Genuine media graduates cannot find jobs because of foul mouths that are reckless, careless and blunt who camp at radio stations. Doctors, psychologist, gynecologists, police officers, teachers, parents and preachers are rendered redundant. They are complaining that they have nothing to do. These rogue actors must swallow a humble pie and realize that they cannot know all. They ought to enlist professional advice to the woes facing their audiences.

How about reprogramming the shows to air during afterhours rather than breakfast? This is the excusable time to talk trash. Idle and able bodied people sit hours on end listening to pornography. They waste productive time doing nothing. Laziness is resting before working. We should work and rest thereafter. There is no better ideal moment than 10 p.m onwards. If the presenters want they can do it until midnight or up to the next day but please spare children this dirt.

A good journalist is the one who observes media law and ethics. S/he does not expose the dignity of his/her audience under the guise of “being the mirror of the society”.

The Media Council of Kenya and the affected media houses have a responsibility to act decently and rein in on rogue journalists.  Freedom has responsibility. Whether you are practicing the freedom of thought, expression or that of media, know that others too have their rights and protect them as you enjoy yours.

As for the rogue presenters, go to (media) school, sit down and learn media practice first before thinking about picking that mic. You can also go to theater and perform all your theatrics there. You have had your time to run the show. It is time for real journalists to take over. Doctors, psychologists, gynecologists, clerics, teachers, and parents you’ve got someone to trust. We will seek your expert advice as we go ahead with our call to entertain, educate and inform the public.