It’s tough writing politics in an election year in Kenya. It was in the last polls. It promises to be tough in the next General Election. But this is a job, a crucial one at that, and someone has to do it and do it well.
The point is, ever since a journalist was hauled off to the International Criminal Court, with strong suspicion, that he was possibly one of those behind the murderous post-election violence in Kenya in 2007, the focus has turned sharply to our trade (or is it calling? Or profession perhaps?).
It is for good reason. Someone has to keep an eye on the messenger to know the message. And in this age of Twitter and Facebook, the eye should be so so sharp, so that, opinions, my personal opinions, do not make it into the final reportage.
Well, everyone knows that there’s news, there’s opinion and then there’s analysis.
In news, the story is that you hit the reader with hard, cold, facts. I do that, but I also, put those facts into context. It is a story, and you don’t tell a story as if you are a statistician. No? I have to tell you why you ought to care to read about some nondescript guy who is vying for the presidency—but do so in a rush!
In opinion, I throw out the nonsense about being tame and hit the reader hard with my biases, whether rational and irrational, and make them know how skewed my logic is, or how sound, my reasoning gets.
I don’t think a reader would expect “balance” in an opinion, because, in any case, it is my thinking, how I feel, and I am just sharing it with you. You don’t necessarily have to agree with me, but then again, a fair reader would expect a rational, well-argued, informed opinion.
There can be no excuse of dressing tribal banter, political attacks, as “opinion”. But that too is an opinion and you can hold it, but sharing it in national media is what makes me a little queasy.
Then there’s analysis. I look at it as weaving facts and context, together with other people’s insights, in a balanced manner. As Joseph Hill, he of the Jamaican reggae group, Mighty Culture sings in Lion Rock, there's three sides to a lion story, your side, my side and then the truth.
In analysis, all these must come out. Not just pushing one agenda.
What I don’t know to handle, or may not know how to handle, is a valid criticism that the “nose” of my analysis is kind of “subjective”. Any takers?
on Monday, 25 February 2013
in Media Council of Kenya Blog Categories