Editor's Guild, Daystar University sign partnerships MoU

Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeidah Kananu and Daystar University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Faith Nguru display a partnership's MoU. [Courtesy]

The Kenya Editors Guild and Daystar University have today signed a partnership agreement that will see the two entities collaborate in training, research, and mentorship programs.

The MoU will also see the two entities partner in terms of conferences and capacity building among students, staff, and faculty.

Under the agreement, Daystar University's School of Communication is expected to benefit from an experienced pool of journalists and editors who will expose communication students to writing, reporting, presentation, and technical skills.

Monthly mentorship forums will be held to engage students in the development and challenges facing Kenya's media industry.

KEG President and Standard Group journalist Zubeidah Kananu said the partnership will also hold short training with professional journalists and students on specialised areas such as climate change reporting (environmental reporting), economic reporting, and other related fields.

She said training on quality and ethical journalism, media freedom, and editorial independence will also be offered.

Kananu said the local media industry is also expected to tap into the tech-savvy pool of students from the University to widen their coverage on digital platforms.

According to her, technology is evolving every day and in the day of social media, people no longer rely on traditional media to get updates on current affairs.

"Young journalists need to be trained on how to prepare news that caters to the audience on social media platforms," she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Daystar University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Faith Nguru who said the partnership will help young journalists to learn the basics and essence of good and ethical journalism and to produce stories that are edified.

She said Daystar University is also to host key national and international media events in collaboration with KEG. One such event identified to be annually staged at Daystar University is the annual Philip Ochieng Memorial lecture.

KEG members, who are managers in the local newsrooms will also offer attachment and internship opportunities to Daystar students to allow them to practice and gain the much-required practical training in the newsrooms.