The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) , has launched the Kenya Press club information portal to help journalists monetize their skills.
The portal will help Press clubs and journalists from different countries with a platform to network, connect to promote professionalism and ethical standards while monetizing their content.
MCK CEO David Omwoyo who was speaking during the Portal launch to Press club members from other counties in Machakos, said that the portal is an avenue for training and exchanging information and negotiating with big media houses and other content consumers.
He noted that initially newsrooms were meant for a specific media house but press clubs are working areas dedicated to several media houses and individuals.
Additionally, he said that the Press clubs are for journalists who are attached to a media house and also those who are working independently to get a working location by generating content and monetizing it by distributing it to various media houses.
“We are trying to make sure a journalist has a job whether attached to a media house or not and their content can be consumed by other users in the country or internationally,” noted Omwoyo.
Owoyo went on to add that ” The Council acknowledges the changing media landscape and has supported the establishment of press clubs with a view of empowering journalists and entrepreneurial journalism.”
Omwoyo disclosed that there are over 2000 journalists who have been laid off from various media houses in the past five years and instead of losing hope with the burden of unemployment, the Press club portal is to assist them craft their skill and monetise.
Omar Abdalla the Chair of Mombasa Press club who had attended the launch said that they started their club in March of this year and with the support of MCK they have grown professionally and have already started monetizing their content and the portal will help them get more clients.
He said the club has fostered unity and cooperation among the media fraternity which has pushed them to focus on their skills and now they have a media consultancy and doing documentaries for various organizations in Mombasa.
Linet KinotiSecretary of Meru Press Club on her part said that they started in 2019 and have a Media hub equipped with cameras and WiFi that accommodates over 40 journalists in Meru to generate content and the portal is an added advantage anyone can login and seek their services.
So far the Council has supported 15 Press clubs from the counties of Meru,Mombasa,Busia,Kisumu,Siaya,Nandi,Marakwet, Kisii,Kericho,Kwale,Kilifi,Kitale, Marsabit and Mt Elgon, as more are expected to come up.The Press club Information online Portal is www.pressclub.or.ke.
By Anne Kangero
