Nation Media Group shuts down three stations and merges two

Nation Media Group shuts down three stations and merges two

Nation Media House. Photo/Professional Consultants

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Nation Media Group has shut down three stations and merged two. NMG closed down Kenya’s Nation FM, QFM and Rwanda’s KFM. QTV has been merged with flagship brand NTV which will assume bilingual Kiswahili and English.

According to a memo sent out, the decision to shut down the multiple stations was attributed to embracing digital media and consolidating the East African market where the NMG operates.

The memo reads in part: "We are cognizant of the changing trends of how our products are being consumed. In line with this new reality, we are reorganizing ourselves with the aim of transforming NMG into a 21st century company by embracing digital as the business model,"
The whole idea, it seems is to stream live radio which again cuts against the grains of your regular radio listener who mainly is the rural population whose internet connectivity is to say the least, pathetic.

Nation Memo announcing clsoure of its stations. Photo/ Steve Mbego

It is this statement that leaves observers wondering how many online listeners can Nation have to command strong advertorial and editorial following. "We will also scale down our radio business (QFM and Nation FM) in Kenya and K FM in Rwanda. We will keep our signal alive and maintain an online presence in line with our new digital strategy,"
Kenya Union of Journalists has threatened to sue the NMG citing breach of Kenyan labor laws citing Section 40 of the Employment Act.

But those who remain hardly hit by the rationalization are the journalists who have been sacked effective being rendered jobless and redundant even as NMG promises that it will cushion them as they transition.

A journalist working for the media firm who spoke under the mask of anonymity said that he fears that the axe might be turned to him and others, adding that the sacking of top journos at the institution will send shockwaves across the media of Kenya ahead of 2017 polls.

“The top scribes leaving the Nation will come out here and take our jobs, hinder our promotion and hiring of fresh graduates.” The major players set to benefit from the exit of multiple channels owned by Nation are Royal Media and Radio Africa as well as Standard groups.

Elsewhere,  the Presidential Strategic Communication Unit has been disbanded sealing the fate of four staff majority former journalists safe for current State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu. Dennis Itumbi, a top blogger and former journalist is among those affected.

Presidential communication team disbanded

Presidential communication team disbanded 

 

Dennis Itumbi at Chuka University at a past event.Photo/MUSYOKA NGUI

BY MUSYOKA NGUI

The Presidential Strategic Communication Unit (PSCU) was disbanded yesterday. That is what Citizen TV’s Terry Anne Chebet told her viewers in News-Just In update before reading the 9 pm bulletin. The script she read seemed again replicated at the Kenya's most popular TV station’s website. This is the link http://citizentv.co.ke/news/president-uhuru-kenyatta-disbands-his-communication-team-132023/

Those affected include Dennis Itumbi the Director of the Digital and Diaspora Communications, Munyori Buku the Senior Public Communications Director and Eric Ng’eno the head of Messaging. The other one on the list is James Kinyua who headed the Events and Branding section of PSCU.

Manoah Esipisu remains the State House Spokesperson and head of communication.

No doubt the State House is moving towards a more structured and organized communication. The PSCU is instrumental in shaping the image of the president and his deputy who are image- conscious and rode to power on the digital platform.

The government maintains a separate government spokesperson’s office currently held by Eric Kiraithe, a former police chief. Others who held the post in the past include Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua and Public Relations expert Muthui Kariuki

On the borderline: the blurred lines between PR and news reporting

On the borderline: the blurred lines between PR and news reporting

By MUSYOKA NGUI

In our media WhatsApp group we often get leads from news sources. The police, politicians, doctors, citizen journalists and fellow news editors and reporters.

At other times we get news from public relations officers and strategists keen on planting stories in various publications which we gate keep. Luckily, our nose for news can tell PRish stuff from public interest stories. That is why we ignore politicians and give human interest stories prominence. Non-negotiable matters of security, health, education resonate well with wananchi than mere bickering of politicians dancing on the graves of victims of maladministration.

For instance, there is no way a right thinking reporter would publish what is actually a press release passing for soft news and ignore the citizens who are seeking audience with county government on why water taps are dry. Nor would I ignore the plight of a potential squatters and publish the side of story of a private developer seeking to grab Mui Coal deposits or Ngaaie limestone gold just because the wananchi do not have access to media handlers.

UhuruRuto seems to get the workings of PR like no one else. Their vibrant presidential presses send stories to the media and get published. The “humble” presidential pair is able to be cast as accessible to the wananchi like in the case where both Uhuru and Ruto dined with the common people in their respective backyards.

They understand that image is important in dressing, public speaking and posturing on Twitter. But how should the reporters cut through the rhetoric of these barbs? Among the most compelling reporters able to pin down these fellows who “interview journalists” is Hussein Mohamed of Citizen TV’s Big Question program. He singlehandedly made Moses Kuria leave the show in a huff forgetting to even return the mic.

The media and PR swing both ways. As a matter of professional ethics, journalists should not be seen to work for commercial and political establishments. Media Council of Kenya CEO Dr. Haroun Mwangi has said as much.

Media firms must pay their staff well to be above brown and white envelopes. As Kenya heads to the electioneering period, the media will increasingly come under sharp focus. In 2007/8 they were indicted as fanning the flames of Post-Election Violence. In 2013 they self-censored. In 2017 they are likely to tread carefully even as they push the public agenda. Once bitten twice shy.

Tots tapping tablets to transform teaching

Tots tapping tablets to transform teaching

Standard One students have received tablets from Kenyan government. Photo/ICT Authority

Now we are facing a stark challenge of sustainability of such populist tablet project which as we know it, orgasmed before making out.

By MUSYOKA NGUI

Free tablets are here after the long wait. Jubilee administration has finally pulled the long shot that to Cord only reminds them that the manifesto said the Uhuruto promised free laptops and not free tablets.

Nursery and kindergarten kids are swiping away, as it were. Standard One kids are now the newest geeks in town.

What is not clear is if the requisite infrastructure is in place.  Instructively, the tablets are supposed to be stored in secure warehouses within the school compounds-something that is not entirely present in a section of the schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has played a critical midwifery role in the digitization process. He is also the mastermind behind the overhaul of  8-4-4 system that for three decades was high on theory and low on practical.

Anyway, what the education mandarins should never forsake is the plight of the Kenyan teacher. The primary and secondary one whose sole responsibility is to mentor the youth intellectually and morally. Nothing is as insulting and disrespectful than the elite of this nation despising teachers who made them who they are both literally and figuratively yet they cannot bring themselves to increasing their salaries with 50-60 % rate even after courts ruled thrice in the favor of tutors.

The result is demoralized teaching fraternity, neglected and largely computer illiterate yet they are supposed to use the tablets to teach when they themselves need Computer Skills 101.

The government chose to introduce tablets instead of laptops unlike in Rwanda. Now we are facing a stark challenge of sustainability of such populist tablet  project which as we know it, orgasmed before making out. No matter the model, a tablet cannot stay in the market for more than a year. What will happen to the obsolete machines? Are we facing yet another environmental dumping challenge (after polythene papers) of computer spare parts left lying around without being recycled? Again, these kids might be affected by computers-the tablets.

INTERNET OF THINGS

While research shows that the more we get connected the more isolated and detached from reality and society we get, how will kids cope with being antisocial instead of learning interpersonal communication skills whey will be busy chatting online with strangers some of whom may prey on them.

Kids must be protected from negative internet. They are excitable and the adrenaline of the green dot can turn anyone even adults to addicts, zombies and lazybones only to succumb to obesity after sitting around eating as they  troll the internet all day without exercising as earlier generation children played outdoor, had real fun and visited relatives and friends.

Much will be said about how technology needs to be embraced but the problem is not the internet but how we use it.

Irony of digital government foreign ministry hacked

Irony of digital government foreign ministry hacked

Photo:hackread.com

By MUSYOKA NGUI

If it is true that the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accounts were hacked April 2016 then government must do all possible to secure tax payer’s information in confidence away from malicious damage.

According to available information, the hacking responsibility was claimed by “Dark Web” a set of websites which maintain online presence yet their IP addresses remain anonymous.

Collectively called “Anonymous”, the clever cyber criminals claimed to have stolen both confidential and non-confidential information from the government. The total sum in question is allegedly 1TB of data.

In a bid to drive fear among government operatives, the hacktivists claim to have leaked just a small quarter of the total cache.

It is important for the Information and Communication CS Joe Mucheru, NIS and Police to investigate if this leak was an inside job or it is from remote servers.

The government must also invest in more secure and technologically updated data storage facilities including encrypting information and classifying it and trusting few privileged administrators who must be held directly responsible for any security breach of data.

While CS Mucheru has denied the authenticity of the said leaked report, it is not lost on observers that the government appears vulnerable. Ironically, Jubilee manifesto was dubbed digital. What now is this?

State secrets must be kept away from enemies and secret watchers since the government’s prime responsibility is to protect its people and in this case its property-including State data. There should, however, be a balance between clamping down on whistleblowing and national security interests-something which the New Constitution 2010 is on path to realize.For more on this read https://www.hackread.com/anonymous-hacks-kenya-ministry-foreign-affairs/

If it is free then you’re the product

If it is free then you’re the product

By MUSYOKA NGUI

A sense of gratitude is a most appreciable value that mortals relish in being complimented. Being told thank you , not just as a formality but an involuntary acknowledgement of a favor, sets of acts of kindness that are never forced but meant.

It is a form of recognition that one has positively impacted others’ lives; put a smile on their faces and contributed to their happiness. In effect, making life bearable for self and others lengthening it from mere existence to enjoyment and cherishing every waking second. Coz let’s face it, life can at times be hard but with people who spice it for others, it helps define the elusive and proverbial meaning of life as we know it.

A facade with the new and now of today is thinking that it takes expensive gestures to make differences in others’ lives. Loved ones obsessed with money, expensive gifts and misplaced senses of entitlement.

What they do not know is that when one shares with you their time you get a piece of their life that cannot be brought back. More valuable than material gain and short term satisfaction.

In the increasing consumerism of 21^st century, let it not be lost on us that while corporates pursue profits, humans should think if it is worth the risk. Is the effort worth the gain? What shall you gain by breaking up a hitherto fruitful relation just because your attitude and ego tells you that you are underrated? Sounds insurable, commodification of people and psychological freebies that do not tell you that if it is free then you are the product.

Saying thank you is not supposed to be a ritual. Neither is it supposed to be a reminder. It is an innate jerk that people credit others in humility. You are self made? Self made? Did you create yourself?

Not only giving gratitude but making a mental note that a good turn deserves another. Return the favor. Like no one really is born the gift that keeps on giving and never receives. Even a casino that never loses also from time to time rewards loyal gamblers.