Joly/Davis

I agree you entirely on the need for training of journalists. And before we can blame them, lets please remember that they are not experts in everything. It is we who understand these technological issues that must unpackage for them in a language that is simple and will be understood by the ordinary person in Kenya. Remember they report in simplified ways aimed at getting clear messages to audiences. My problem is that when we (read experts, not just in ICT issues but in other areas) talk to journalists, we assume they should be on the same footing with us, and go on to use all the jargon, acronyms (argh!) and provide scanty details with the assumption that for example the journalist(s) should automatically know 'these things'.

We need to take on the challenge of training the journalists, and when talking to them or being interviewed, explain stuff, and avoid assumptions that this is 'common knowledge'. If Kenyans in various fields did this, we would see an improvement in instances of misrepresentation of facts. So next time you talk to a journalist, kindly unapackage issues. Sometimes technological issues require you the expert to bring yourself down as if you were explaining to a two year old (to quote Maina Kageni).

Rgds

GG

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Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:39:26 -0800
From: mautidavis@yahoo.com
To: joly@punkcast.com; isoc@lists.my.co.ke
Subject: Re: [ISOC_KE] Kamau Mbote

Dear Joly,

I think most writers/journalists need some training on reportage of technology issues. He has tried but somehow failed in communicating the ISOC Ke launch well; he sort of of ended misforming the public.

 

Regards and many thanks,
Davis M Onsakia

'The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.' - Maureen Dowd

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From: Joly MacFie <joly@punkcast.com>
To: "isoc@orion.my.co.ke" <isoc@lists.my.co.ke>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:09 AM
Subject: [ISOC_KE] Kamau Mbote

In my search online for mentions of the launch event, all I could come up with is

http://www.humanipo.com/blog/2926/Kenyan-chapter-of-Internet-Society-launches-this-week

Author Kamau Mbote is to be commended in covering the event, however the article is somewhat mis-informative..

1) It lists IS as the acronym for the Internet Society.

2) It says "a global lobby group advocating Internet freedoms, is opening an office in Kenya this week" = not entirely accurate.

3) It doesn't make clear the relationship of George Kithi to ISOC-KE (and the link to the story is messed up - it is here ) while implying controversial statements are ISOC-KE policy.

4) It concludes- "Kenya joins the 193 Internation Telecommunications Union (ITU) member states in having an IS presence." - which is just plain nonsense!

Perhaps someone could contact Mr. Mobote and set him straight?

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