Media role in democracy praised

The public trusts the media as an important tool for promoting democracy, a study has revealed.

This survey was conducted by a group of NGOs and journalism scholars drawn from various local universities and sponsored by the Kenya Peace Network.

The public would, however, want the media to do more in exposing corruption and other malpractices in the public offices, the report says.

The report titled 'News Media, Public Sphere or Exclusive Space', while praising the media for safeguarding public interest, wants to see increased coverage of county news.

According to the report, the public is also unhappy that the media do not give issues that affect the ordinary citizens enough coverage.

"There are serious malpractices like corruption at the counties which the media outlets have not reported because some of the journalists have been compromised," said University of Nairobi lecturer George Nyabuga during a Media and Public Participation workshop at Eastern Hotel.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Rwanda hailed for consensus democracy after genocide
• 
  Asley Korir elected president Moi Educational Centre
• 
  How Kenyans faked themselves into employment
• 
  Time for those who have been in politics 'forever' to exit the scene

He added: "Former journalists have been employed in the counties as communications directors who ensure only positive stories come out." While launching the report, Information Secretary Ezekiel Mutua called for training journalists to make them more effective in their work.