In the front flap of Francis Fukuyama seminal book, The End of History and the Last Man, the author asks somewhat rhetorical questions that have concerned what he calls “great philosophers of centuries past”. He ponders: “Is there a direction (original emphasis) to the history of humankind? And if it is directional, to what end is it moving? And where are we now concerning that “end of history?”
In the same flap, Fukuyama identifies two “powerful forces at work in human history”, namely: “the logic of modern science” and the “the struggle for recognition”. Similarly, the current situation in the Kenyan media landscape begs numerous questions from which we postulate the end of journalism in Kenya.
Modern journalism is characterised by disruption and uncertainty amid the Covid-19 pandemic and technological shifts. But that’s not all. The logic of existentialism of the individual journalist and individual media house in the competitive field of modern journalism is a significant challenge.
The other, similar to Fukuyama’s, is the struggle for legitimacy and recognition in an era where journalism and media are struggling to redefine their place and (re)construct a new social contract built on trust and appreciation that journalism is inevitable and invaluable in modern society. But therein lies the problem amidst the existential challenges and credibility crisis confronting journalists and the media in the face of financial and attendant pressures wrought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and other threats from within and without the current media political and economic environment.
End of journalism in Kenya?
Thus, I would like to pronounce that 2021 marks the end of journalism in Kenya. Such a conclusion is rather controversial, albeit one that has been mentioned before in different places, times and contexts. Employment and retention in the media sector are not a given. Job cuts and retrenchments have become commonplace.
Hundreds of journalists have recently lost their jobs as media companies face uncertainties based on fluid or unstable financial positions and performances, reduced (advertisements and other) revenues, declining ratings, etc. Those who did not lose their jobs had to take pay cuts. There is a reduced investment in content development and creation, capacity building and training. Investigative journalism is in terminal decline.
The coronavirus pandemic is often blamed for many of these consequences, but a close examination reveals that the genesis of the troubles dates back many years. Whatever the case, however, the Covid-19 has presented us with a perfect opportunity to interrogate the place, look and feel, obligations and responsibilities of journalism and the media within the context of the two logics mentioned above. It is not the end of storytelling, however. That still exists. 2020 is the year that journalism came to an end.
Media obituaries and epitaphs
Although various pronouncements have been made regarding journalism, some declaring that journalism is in terminal decline, 2020 has had seismic pressures on journalism, whose consequences have been felt far and wide. But the obituaries and epitaphs have been written before.
In 2008, Mark Briggs, the CEO of Serra Media, a Seattle-based digital innovation company, claimed in the Nieman Reports that “journalism’s brand is broken” and that “news organisations struggle not only with public perception of journalism but also with brand value”. He made the conclusion that this was “the end of journalism as usual’ stating that the business model for journalism (was) crumbling”.
Writing in the HuffPost, the former President and Founder of NY Times TV, Michael Rosenblum, said journalism “is in serious trouble”. Before Rosenblum’s article, Héctor Tobar, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon, had argued in an opinion piece in The New York Times titled ‘Who’d Be a Journalist?‘ that journalism is a “profession that’s widely reviled, poorly compensated and often dangerous. To enter journalism these days, you have to be a true believer.” Of course, these viewpoints and concerns were predicated on trends that started many years ago. Nevertheless, the assertions and conclusions provide food for thought, especially on what ails journalism and what can be done to help it recover and reinvigorate it amid an existential, trust, credibility and reliability crisis.
Change or ‘fade away’
That journalism has to change is not in doubt. But what should this ‘new’ journalism look like? Should it depart from its professional ethos and acquire a new look just for the sake of looking new to mitigate the challenges? What should be retained, and what should it look for as it seeks to develop a new trajectory fit for purpose in the 21st century?
As we grapple with the questions and interrogate the place of journalists in modern journalism and media space, it is abundantly clear that journalism is still vital in an information society. Just like anything that has gone past, journalism is embedded in society’s history as a profession that has and continues to serve the public interest, contribute to change, and enhance society’s wellbeing as an agent of democracy, the rule of law, and defender of human rights.
It may be the end of journalism as we know it, but this presents journalists with the opportunity to reexamine their place, work, and performance to (re)transforming or (re)developing their future even in the era of disruptions, crises and uncertainties.
Prof George NyabugaReport by Aga Khan University’s Media Innovation Centre analyses the country’s millennials and digital natives’ media consumption habits.
For the media to flourish, and the society to have free flow of accurate and verifiable information, journalists, the drivers in the passing of information are expected to be well grounded in laws and the legal aspect pertaining to the job, writes Alfred Ganzo.
Pitching provides numerous opportunities for your new or existing business ideas to be discovered and realized; and as Simon Mtabazi writes, some startups have become billion-dollar companies due to efffevie pitches
The success you achieve with your media startup business will heavily rely on your reputation as a trustworthy company, and as Nandi Mwiyombella writes, it will also open a new window for customers and potential investors.
That’s why I think today is such a great space for us to sit back and reflect on the questions that could help us shape the kind of journalism that we want to see in our local and global community.
The report specifically analysed eight major variables which include: newsroom structure and resources, media ownership and business models, organisational capacity, innovation culture, journalism culture, financial trends and results, content quality and COVID-19.
Mudi, in her role as Media Council of Kenya regional coordinator in charge of Mombasa(covering the entire coastal region), has found herself at the forefront in advocating and fighting to protect journalists’ rights, culminating in her being awarded for her peace efforts in the run-up and during the 2022 general elections in Kenya.
The 2022 general elections have been mentally draining for journalists, some of whom have had to stay on the campaign trail for over a year. Others have had to toy with the tough call of managing teams in the newsroom. East Site’s Isaac Swila and political writer Rawlings Otieno recount their experiences
What role did social media influencers play in the election? What voice did they give in political discourses during and around the election period? And to what extent did political candidates involve the influencers in marketing their manifestos to sway votes in their favour? East Site writer Steven Omondi unpacks the details
The media industry is experiencing enormous transformation as new digital trends emerge. With the vast opportunities that the digital space offers, media owners and content producers must deliberately adapt to how the audience consumes content.
With the increased Digital Technology at the palm of just anybody; there are a lot of information that distort whether deliberately or not highlighting the need of robust Fact0checking as Asha D. Abinallah explains
Is there a danger in media personalities having a vibrant social media presence? Assuming they have a massive media following, should they self-regulate and filter what they post? And when they engage with followers, should their opinions be taken as personal, or does it represent the journalist’s media house? East Site writer Isaac Swila explores
Media stakeholders are raising concerns over the lack of gender-inclusive reporting in East African newsrooms. They want concerted efforts to ensure more female journalists get equal opportunities like their male counterparts.
The partnership will also ensure that local content is curated and distributed to better optimize the product and meet the needs of Kenyan online users.
The news industry is constantly changing, and in the last few years, User Generated Content (UGC) has become a ubiquitous feature in news sourcing and packaging. However, media houses and journalists need to establish verification and credibility safeguards to avoid the misinformation trap.
Reporting on elections is, for many journalists, an opportunity to establish themselves as reliable political reporters. But the task comes with certain risks, particularly in the East African sub-region.
Stakeholders are now calling for concerted efforts, better planning and preparations for journalists before they are sent out on the field to cover Kenya’s high-stakes August 9 General Elections.
East Africa’s media grapples with a myriad of challenges whenever general elections approach. Not only do editors struggle with balancing the competing political interests, at times at the altar of professionalism, but individual journalists pay dearly, many suffering attacks in the course of their duties.
As Form One students settle into a new life in secondary school, this has also been a period of reflection. We have read tear-jerking and heart-warming stories of determined students who overcame many odds to get an education and how well-wishers came together in their aid.
There is renewed optimism in the Tanzanian media space following the ascension to power of President Samia Suluhu whose regime is keen to relax some of the laws deemed punitive to journalists and media houses
Uganda fell behind, whereas Kenya improved its press freedom ranking in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 Press Freedom Index. And after years of media freedom decline, Tanzania appears to be on the right track. But overall, media freedom activists say there is still work to be done.
A free and independent press is the cornerstone of any democracy and the foundation of economic success, mostly because through our free press, we’re able to hold the leadership to account.
To align with the changing times and stay relevant in the business, media houses are challenged to rethink their strategy and to adopt and understand obstacles and challenges they face towards rethinking and exploring alternative sources of revenue and on developing the digital strategy.
A team of young, Tanzanian tech-savvy communication professionals is dreaming big. It seeks to usher a new dawn in media business management in Tanzania by optimising employee output and offering consultancy to media businesses on how they can operate with a minimal budget but still attain their goals.
Bloggers and influencers have become an integral component of information sourcing across East Africa. The public uses blogs, privately run websites and social networks to crowdsource information from social networks, which they then publish and distribute. But it’s not all rosy for this group of content makers.
The chances of meeting a medical graduate practising journalism are usually very slim, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. But two Tanzanian physicians have broken away from that norm by inventing a start-up called Afyatoon. It uses visual art technology to tell compelling medical stories. They narrate to the EAST Site their experience and share their vision for the future.
Did you know that in 2021 Kenyans watched less TV and spent more time on social media? Or that some Kenyans rely on family, friends, or even social media icons and bloggers as a source of news and information? These are some of the conclusions highlighted in the 2021 State of the Media Survey conducted by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
The effects of the Covid pandemic continue to change the world in ways we had not imagined possible. The media is going through a painful transformation to keep up with changing production, distribution and consumption habits. In East Africa, Uganda’s Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) recently hosted a panel discussion on Media Viability comprising experienced journalists from Television, Radio, Print and Online/Digital media to address lessons learned from the pandemic. East Site’s Moses Mutente attended the panel and compiled this article.
In this commentary, Uganda-based journalist Caleb Okereke shares deep personal insights into why media schools in East Africa must rethink their curriculum. He stresses the need for trainers to begin teaching media ownership to better equip journalism students for the dynamic and cutthroat job market by taking us through his journey as a journalism student and media owner.
For the second year running, a survey commissioned by the Media Council of Kenya shows that the trust level in Kenyan media has nosedived, raising fundamental questions on how media will play its watchdog role more so with landmark elections set for August 9. EAST Site writer Isaac Swila explores.
