Media Council of Kenya trains Journalists on hate speech and election coverage as Burundi readies to host Broadcasters workshop

By DNK Reporter and Xinhua

Media Council of Kenya inconjuction with  the National Cohesion and Integration commission have launched a programme to train Journalists on the ethics and hate speech ahead of the March 04 General election.

Already a workshop for Journalists working for regional based radio stations in the Coast Province was held last week and ended on Wednesday,October 31 followed by one for bloggers and online Journalists at the Nairobi`s  Kenya Commercial Bank conference centre between Thursday, November 01 and Friday November 02.

The two organisations have also organised another two days training for press photographers and cartoonists in Naivasha between November 05 and November 06.

The programmes Manager at the Council Mr Victor Bwire said that this is a critical time in Kenya where campaigns for the March 04 General election is about to start and if the media which are part of the society can be used to incite and fuel tension through their reportage thus making them enter into a partnership with the NCIC to train Journalists on the election coverage  and hate speech.

Among the trainers during the Karen workshop were Ms Milly Lwanga who is a Commissioner at the NCIC,Dr.Haron Mwangi,Chief Executive Officer at the MCK,Managing Editor of the Media Convergence at the Nation Media Group Mr.Churchil Otieno,representative of committee of protection of Journalists in East Africa Mr Tom Rhodes and a legal officer from the NCIC Mr.Jackson Cheboi.

Others were veteran Journalist and Lecturer Mr.Joe Kadhi,MCK Chairman Prof.Levi Obonyo and a CID Officer Mr Stanley Cheruiyot.

Meanwhile, Burundi is to host the 21st edition of the international training workshop of Francophone broadcasters next week, a senior official of the French Speaking Radio and Television International Council (CIRTEF) said here on Thursday.

The workshop will be held in the East African country's capital Bujumbura on Nov. 6-9 with a theme of "Digital culture: Which strategies for our public media?" said CIRTEF Program Officer Ronald Theunen."The training workshop (SEFOR) will bring together professional journalists working for radios and televisions from the North and the South in a bid to share experiences and discuss issues related to news reporting and magazine production as well as the introduction of new technologies in radio and television stations. "

 Theunen said the training workshop is an opportunity that will allow Francophone journalists from the North and the South to discuss with experts issues related to the "digitalization" of radios and televisions. Participants will also analyze how to better keep archives for the use of the audience. "Keeping well audio and video archives is very important. Participants from all over the world will learn how to keep them for the use of our future generations," said Theunen.

The 21st edition of the international training workshop of Francophone broadcasters has been jointly organized by the French Speaking Radio and Television International Council (CIRTEF) and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).During the joint press conference, Burundi National Radio and Television (RTNB) Chanel Nsabimbona said this will be the first time for Burundi to host such an event, stressing that the choice of Burundi to host it is "an evidence of the return of peace and stability" in Burundi.