Media houses urged to focus on inclusive reporting

Betty Sungura Nyabuto, CEO National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). [David Gichuru, Standard]

Human rights activists and other media industry captains are calling on media houses in Kenya to ensure inclusion in their coverage of political issues ahead of the August 2022 general election.

The call was made during a high-level four-hour consultative meeting on advocacy to ensure gender-sensitive and inclusive reporting.

Meeting heard that the media reporting should focus on special interest groups, including children, people with disabilities, women, the youth, the elderly, and the minority groups

Betty Sungura Nyabuto, CEO National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), urged Human rights organisations present to involve the media in their community empowerment efforts.

“The media is a friend we must work with,” she said, adding that the media is mandated with educating the public on matters of national interest without partiality and bias.

“The media should always take a neutral position, and guarantee gender-responsive reporting through reaffirming principles of gender, identifying discrimination persecution, gender-based violence, and promoting peace through factual and balanced coverage,” said Nyabuto.

Nyabuto further urged the media to tell stories of women and people with disabilities involved in politics, point out any discrimination against them, and report their stories in a way that celebrates their achievements.

This, she said, will encourage society to be sensitive and embrace these special interest groups while simultaneously elevating them to contribute more toward societal development

Dr Joyce Mutinda, Chairperson National Gender and Equality Commission, making reference to Malcolm X, said that the media is the world’s most powerful entity, with the power to make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent, as it controls the minds of the masses.

“Media persons should not abuse or ignore their ability to control opinion. Media persons should ensure stories from the special interest groups are given coverage,” she said.

Churchill Otieno, President, Kenya Editors Guild, said although some media houses have come up with gender policies, implementation is slow.

He cited sexual harassment, poor capacity to report issues, and few women on the decision-making table as impediments to ensuring gender-balanced reporting.

“Women journalists are often assigned “soft” issues such as lifestyle, gender, and entertainment, barring them from being a part of key discussions around politics, crime, science, and technology,” said Otieno.

He further urged the journalism education sector to review its curriculum to include gender awareness topics and discussions.

The conference was organised in partnership with the National Gender and Equality Commission, The Media Council of Kenya, and the Kenya Editors Guild with an overriding goal to promote gender mainstreaming in reporting and special interest group participation in elections.

The conference was organised by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Media Council of Kenya, Kenya Editors Guild, and UN Women.