KENYA BLOGGERS BEAT THE MEDIA BLACKOUT AND DISSEMINATE NEWS
January 8th 2008 10:49
With news blackouts in force in Kenya, bloggers have come to the fore keeping even traditional media informed of events throughout the country.
Kenya has one of the most vibrant blogging communities in Africa according to the Internet and Democracy project team at Harvard in the US.
“Blogs and mobile phones have played critical roles since violence erupted,” according to the blog post which is hosted at the Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University.
The blog reports, “Besides South Africa, Kenya has long had the most vibrant blogging community in sub-Saharan Africa. Since Sunday, when the government instituted a media blackout, blogs have become critical to spreading the latest news. On Tuesday, the blackout was lifted, but in this rapidly changing situation, bloggers have been far swifter and more detailed in their reporting about the latest clashes…”
Kenya imposed a live radio and TV news ban on December 30 in the wake of its disputed presidential election.
Internal security minister John Michuki announced the live broadcast ban shortly after President Mwai Kibaki was proclaimed winner of the controversial election. The information and communication minister said the "suspension of live broadcasts" had been ordered "in the interest of public safety and tranquillity." A government press release said: "In the prevailing environment, some people are using the media to call for violence and to incite members of the public to engage in violence."
Most of the broadcast media suspended all their news programs, effectively plunging Kenya into a news blackout. Local broadcast journalists said they were afraid the police could raid their stations and order them to close. One privately owned station, Kiss FM, is continuing to broadcast a phone-in programme. Two TV journalists with privately owned K24 were attacked by protesters while covering demonstrations on December 30.
The situation is tense, with deadly clashes being reported in Nairobi and several provincial cities. Local journalists said news was now circulating mainly by means of SMS messages. Kiss FM host Caroline Mutoko asked listeners not to cite Kiss FM as the source of reports in their SMS messages when it is not true, explaining that such behaviour could result in the station being closed.
Radio Lake Victoria, a station based in the western city of Kisumu, openly supported opposition candidate Raila Odinga, and has been forced off the air as a result of what deputy station manager Seth Oloo called government "sabotage."
- From MediaBlab
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