- On this World Press Freedom Day, I'm reminded that as journalists, we rarely tell our own stories.
- So much emphasis has always been placed on the role of journalists in addressing the country's calamities. But who addresses our struggles?
While enjoying lunch recently, a member of the civil society approached me and asked if I knew anyone affected by floods so that I could provide their name(s) and help them receive material assistance.
I quickly suggested names of residents I knew who were directly affected, hoping that more kind-hearted individuals would step forward to aid those affected by the current state.
You probably already have an idea of what my list looked like.
However, the chances of Henix, for instance, a journalist affected by floods, appearing on that list were slim.
I am not saying I am poor and hoi polloi, as my friend from the lakeside would call it, but damn, I wished someone could donate gumboots, umbrellas, raincoats Et al., to journalists who are now visiting flood-affected residents in the country.
I don't mean to imply that journalists cannot afford these simple items themselves.
Still, folks, let me tell you, some journalists are struggling to make ends meet with their meagre paychecks, and acquiring basic ‘life-saving’ equipment is not a priority for them at the moment.
If you take a look at the State of the Media Report for 2023/2024 by the Media Council of Kenya, which was released on Thursday, perhaps you'll understand why I'm highlighting this issue.
Apart from the government's threats and isolation, which were listed as the main challenges faced by journalists in the country, poor or inadequate pay and unfavourable working conditions stood out to me. Yes, it's the lack of pay I'm talking about.
While some may be tempted to label me as the author of a book of Lamentations, I urge them to pause for a moment and consider how journalists who have listed a lack of pay as their challenge are managing to survive now.
If a survey was conducted today on how many journalists have been affected by floods in the country, I'm sure the findings would be staggering.
For journalists now, an empty stomach, an empty wallet, and floods will teach you the most valuable lessons in your career. And that's something that should be taken seriously if you ask me.
On this World Press Freedom Day, I'm reminded that as journalists, we rarely tell our own stories.
So much emphasis has always been placed on the role of journalists in addressing the country's calamities. But who addresses our struggles?
Today, I'm reminding my colleagues why we need to start being a little selfish and tell our own stories because no one else will save us.
When news broke about floods affecting a radio station in one of the counties, I wondered whether the journalists at that station would focus on reporting about the community or prioritize their challenges first. My heart goes out to them today.
Today, I'm reminding my colleagues of a common proverb in newsrooms, which states, "You will be replaced on that desk immediately if you die or fall ill. It's as simple as that.
Today, I'm reminding my colleagues that the public, according to research, is losing interest in the stories we tell, accusing some of us of being activists and pushing our agendas.
However, the same public isn't aware that journalists are not immune to the impact of traumatic events and challenging assignments.
I am just not sure whether audiences are aware of burnout and compassion fatigue that plague the industry. It is like being turned into a robot daily. You cannot escape that matrix.
On this World Press Freedom Day, I'm reminding my colleagues why we need to pause for a moment, take a breath, and start telling our own stories because no one is coming to save us.
The writer is a journalist based in Nairobi