World Press Freedom Day
By: Mercy Kachenge
Worth Noting:
- In the last decade the World Press Freedom index shows that the Press Freedom was globally lowest due to the myriad of challenges including polarized political environment, global and national security issues and terrorism among other factors that has contributed to the declining Press Freedom that is still celebrate up to date Worldwide by Journalists.
- As media practioneers are still continuing to thrive and manage the tensions between freedom and fairness, the MCK has remained to build the membership of journalist. It is through ushering in of the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Media Council Act, 2013 has ushered in a new legal and regulatory framework in Media and information communication environment in Kenya.
Members of the press celebrating the world press freedom day
Journalist yesterday celebrated their day marking another year of their profession in the Media industry. Journalism professionals encounter myriad of challenges during their line duty. It is not an easy profession but need determined mind. Many journalists in Kenya and even foreign Journalist Worldwide are being accredited by the Media Council in respective countries. In Kenya, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) governs all media practioneers that have accredited by the body enjoy most of Journalistic rights. The Media Council of Kenya enshrines most of the rights journalist practioneers in Kenya. This body ensures that those who work in Media practioneers are protected under this body.
The Media Council of Kenya is the only leading institution in Kenya that regulates the Media industry and the conduct and discipline of journalist practioners in Kenya. The Media Council of Kenya promotes the high professional standards among all journalists in Kenya. It protects and promotes freedom and independence of the media industry including foreign journalist who have been accredited by the Council. This body promotes the ethical Standards of journalist that have been set by the council.
The Code of Conduct for the practice of Journalism as entrenched in the second schedule of the Media Council Act 2013 which governs the practice of all media practioneers in the country. There are two laws in Kenya that governs media operations in Kenya that is, Media Council Act, 2013 and Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Act 2013 which was passed by the Kenya National Assembly on December 5th 2013.The Media Council Act 2013 was assented by The President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta on 24th December 2013 and it came into practice on 10th January 2014 following the repeat of the Media Act which set the establishment of the body, Media Council of Kenya. This body has remained to control and sets the regulation and monitoring the practice of Journalism in Kenya.
In the last decade the World Press Freedom index shows that the Press Freedom was globally lowest due to the myriad of challenges including polarized political environment, global and national security issues and terrorism among other factors that has contributed to the declining Press Freedom that is still celebrate up to date Worldwide by Journalists.
As media practioneers are still continuing to thrive and manage the tensions between freedom and fairness, the MCK has remained to build the membership of journalist. It is through ushering in of the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Media Council Act, 2013 has ushered in a new legal and regulatory framework in Media and information communication environment in Kenya.
Nowadays, the face of Media has really transformed greatly and extraordinary with the advancement in the field of technology including the internet. This has dominated the media as a result of technology and the public can now participate in publishing and producing news for the media outlets.
The challenges journalist encounter during their line of duty include gagging of the media, physical attack, detention, media ownership and others but journalist have remained strong throughout. This is another year they celebrate “World Press Freedom day”” in conjunction with Kenya Union of Journalist (KUJ).
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