[Kenya Journalists have been urged to avoid sensational reporting especially as the country heads to polls in August. Photo/Mzalendo.com]
Journalists have been urged to avoid sensationalism in their reporting to avoid creating unnecessary tensions in the country ahead of the polls.
Ms Catherine Ndungu, a PhD researcher in development studies at St Paul's University, said that journalists needed to exercise restraint to avert ugly confrontations that may slide the country into anarchy."We need to exercise due restraint in our reporting so as to avoid escalating conflict. This will enable factual, issue-based coverage of issues and events and reduce the possibility of more confrontation," said Ms Ndungu.
Ms Grace Kilonzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Victorious Steps Consultancy Group, asked journalists to adapt to a rapidly changing media environment.
"We can no longer continue to practice journalism as usual. It is incumbent upon writers to be more aware of their audience and the effect their stories and images will have especially on volatile situations," she said.Ms Kilonzi said that journalists possess power to influence conflict situations positively or negatively.
Ms Mercy Nkatha, the coordinator and CEO of IHub Research, asked media professionals to avoid getting trapped in propaganda proxy wars between opposing sides in conflicts.
The seminar was sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) and the Victorious Steps Consultancy group.