The place of community papers in
the digital age is in jeopardy
T
|
he opposers won by 67 per cent
majority leaving the hapless proposers to contend with a paltry 33 out of 100.
BY MUSYOKA NGUI
In what would arguably go down the annals of history as the
most charged debate in Chuka University, the SGT1 hall was not prepared for the
scholarly debate on the future of community press in the digital era.
The proposers argued that the
community papers will survive the digital revolution while the opposers held
that the community papers will die in the modern times. The speaker called
seven debaters from each side. Five students shot up to the podium. Two guests
for each side also contributed. Proposers included Iscar Juma, Lucy Theuri,
Lily Kinyua, Chrisphine Magak and Nyarumi Geoffrey. The opposers were Wangui
Wanjau, Mtana Medza, Angela Koech, Martin Wachira and Shabaan Robert.
 |
| The Presidency's Digital Director Dennis Itumbi |
USIU- Africa lecturer Prof. Macharia
Munene supported the motion. He cast an illuminating gaze at the audience that proved
expertly crafted to intimidate hitherto confident opposers. Presidential
Strategic Communications Unit Digital Director Dennis Itumbi and County
Review boss Lloyd Kibaara weighed in the opposers side, effectively tipping
the delicate scale in the minds of keen judges Susan Wangari, Nehemiah Njoroge
and Faith Ngure. The judges returned a
harsh verdict for the proposers who assumed they’d have a field day. The opposers
won by 67 per cent majority leaving the hapless proposers to contend with a
paltry 33 out of 100.
The students also had an
opportunity to field questions to the guests. Dennis Itumbi encouraged students
to set up start-ups such as blogs and SMS news organizations. Prof. Munene was
at hand to guide students on political and international affairs on which he
has immense experience teaching and commenting on in TV and newspapers. Itumbi
challenged the learners to be proactive in turning their ideas into tangible
success stories and maintaining the stream of steam.
The entourage proceeded to Meru
where they were going to launch County Review regional edition. The
guests promised to come back if invited. The event did not disappoint.
And oh, the students held a
selfies session with the guests. Itumbi flashed two finger salutes with
comrades who were eager to get a piece of him. He also gave out his contacts
and urged the students to stay in touch and tag him in the photo uploads.
The
writer is a blogger at musyokangui.blogspot.com and a Fourth Year Communication
and Media student at Chuka University.
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| L-R John Ndiritu, Musyoka Ngui and Dennis Itumbi |
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