Media Council Workshop in Kisii University

Journalists and media professionals converged at Kisii University for a high-impact workshop led by the Media Council of Kenya. 

It focused on the evolving landscape of digital journalism, the fight against misinformation, and financial literacy.

The training, themed “Capacity Building and skills upgrading for journalists and media practitioners ”, was led by MCK Director Victor Bwire.

 He highlighted the increasing challenge of false information in the digital age, where real-time global communication and democratized content creation have made it easier for misleading narratives to spread rapidly.

This was echoed with Senior officer, research planning and strategy Jacob Nyongesa as he outlined the three main categories of harmful information: misinformation (shared unintentionally), disinformation (deliberate and deceptive), and malinformation (genuine information shared to cause harm). 

He warned that such content leads to public mistrust, damages reputations, and disrupts democratic discourse.

To counter these challenges, the workshop emphasized the importance of fact-checking as a journalistic pillar. 

Participants were introduced to tools like reverse image search, geolocation, and video verification, and were guided on evaluating sources based on authority, reliability, bias, and originality.

Attendees were also reminded of key media laws, including the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018), National Cohesion and Integration Act (2008), and the Kenya Information and Communications Act (2013), which guide responsible media practices and penalize the spread of harmful content.

The session also addressed the legal allowance of a 7-second delay in information broadcast, particularly relevant in live coverage scenarios, and urged journalists to remain proactive in sharing verified information amid the social media surge.

On the other hand trainer Teddy led a discussion on financial literacy, advising journalists to “live a life you can fund” and resist societal pressure to overspend. 

He encouraged disciplined saving and smart money habits as crucial for long-term sustainability.

The workshop concluded with a call for innovation in AI and machine learning to support journalism, particularly in information verification and content creation.

Participants left empowered with practical tools and insights to uphold integrity in journalism.