EACC and MCK train Journalists on accurate reporting on corruption
By Dickson Odhiambo
September
29, 2022
EACC and
MCK train Journalists on accurate reporting on corruption
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Media Council of
Kenya have embarked on a training session to Journalists across the country on
how to report on issues of corruption accurately.
The EACC and the Media Council of Kenya is currently conducting a
three day workshop for Kisumu based Journalists that has seen 30 Journalists
from Print, electronic and online being trained on reporting on issues of
corruption accurately and effectively.
Addressing the Journalists during the official opening of the
three days’ workshop at a Kisumu Hotel, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Deputy Director in charge of Education and Public Awareness Dr. Emily Mworia
said the workshop’s
aim is to strengthen technical capacity in the coverage and reporting of
corruption and unethical conducts.
“This
workshop points to the deepening collaboration
and partnership between the Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Media Sector in the area of capacity
building. The workshop is very timely coming just days after the conclusion of
the electioneering period. As the media your work of putting elected leaders to
check is undoubtedly well spelt out. Corruption remains one of
the greatest impediments to good governance and service delivery,” she says.
Dr Mwora
says the Commission has continued to fashion targeted such programs to equip
the media with the necessary skills and also avail relevant information to enable
them carry accurate information in regards to its mandate.
“The
partnership between the Commission and the media is a win-win proposition.
Whereas you are looking for stories and information to communicate to the
public, the Commission is on the other hand in hold of a lot of information
beneficial to the citizens. As such our coming together is for mutual benefit,”
Dr. Mworia adds.
She says there is
need for the media to ensure fair reporting of anti-corruption matters in the
Country, adding that unfair reporting erodes public confidence in their
institutions and negatively influences corruption perception of the Country.
“Through
such partnerships, the war on corruption have received major boost and key
milestones have been registered like in the area of asset tracing and recovery
where so far, assets valued at more than 26.65 billion have been recovered. Undeniably,
as media practitioners, you make major contributions in the fight against
corruption either directly or indirectly. Through your journalistic work you
are able to influence the opinions and worldviews of the society,” Dr. Mworia
further adds
Media Council of Kenya Western Kenya Regional Coordinator Evans Teddy
says Journalists doing investigative stories on corruption related cases should
still observe the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalists in the
Country.
Teddy says such stories on issues of corruption should remain
fair, balanced and accurate where both sides of the stories are presented.
Teddy has urged journalists not to misuse the issue of unnamed
sources in their stories as this will surely kill the credibility of such
stories.
The MCK regional manager says the scribes should give those who
have been mentioned unfavorably on stories the opportunity to reply on the allegation
leveled against them.
On the issue of confidentiality, Teddy says news sources who have
requested to remain anonymous should be treated so but Editors in the news
rooms who are the gate keepers should be made aware of such sources from the
journalists who have filed such stories.
He urges scribes to resist undue pressure from news sources who
would want to influence the way stories are published or broadcasted.
“As a journalist, always do the right thing at all times in line
with the Code of Conduct for the practice of Journalism in Kenya to avoid
falling into the traps of contravening what the Code stipulates,” Teddy says.
He says once doing the right thing as journalists during their
work, it will enable them to be also held accountable by the public just like
they also hold the public accountable.
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