Journalists have been encouraged to embrace solution-based reporting instead of focusing only on highlighting imminent challenges and problems.
Media Council of Kenya Coordinator in charge of central region Jackson Karanja on Monday observed that it’s high time for media practitioners to do research and investigation towards offering solutions to problems and challenges facing the society.
During a breakfast meeting with scribes who work in Murang’a county, Karanja said journalists can entrench professionalism in their reporting by not just mentioning issues affecting people’s lives without giving possible ways on how the impending problems can be handled.
“Solution journalism focuses on offering solutions instead of only highlighting challenges. It aims at coming up with initiatives, strategies, and projects that have proven to be effective in addressing the challenges” said Karanja.
This type of journalism, the coordinator said, is evidence-based with an emphasis on research and functional evidence that helps viewers and readers understand the impact of these approaches.
“This type of reporting is evidence-based with emphasis on research and functional evidence, for example, approach on human stories like feature stories,” he said.
Karanja continued “For example when a journalist reports on issues like drugs, alcoholism, and substance abuse that is facing Murang’a county, they should go a step further and offer solutions on maybe how the county government or the relevant bodies and the community ought to find solutions on how to curb the menace.”
Meanwhile, the coordinator urged local journalists to join and become members of Media Associations and Press clubs, which are vital vessels used when it comes to solution journalism.
“Press clubs and Media Associations are the future of journalism,” he said, adding that members can propel solution journalism since they work together to pitch story ideas where they can write or do video recordings as a unit where they can learn from one another.
Karanja further said the training also emphasized that journalists should uphold media ethics and professionalism while reporting on their day-to-day duties.
“Media Council of Kenya is urging journalists to keep up the good work in professionalism and accuracy when it comes to reporting,” he said stressing that journalists are expected to provide adequate and correct information when they are reporting.
He called upon all journalists working under various media houses to make an effort and ensure they are accredited by MCK saying the council is mandated to ensure there is professionalism in media and that the council has a duty to support only accredited scribes.
“The council provides media accreditation to all journalists and they are given media cards that identify them for easy recognition. This helps in preventing quacks in the industry.” He said.
By Anita Omwenga and Bernard Munyao
