Journalists must observe code of ethics

In recent years, Kenya has made a positive step in ensuring professionalism in different fields.

Most professions now have experts whose mandate is to regulate the conduct of members and ensure proper training of students in that particular field, among other responsibilities.

For instance, the Engineers Board of Kenya moved in to bar universities not well-equipped from offering engineering courses. The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board and the Council of Legal Education have done the same.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) should also crack the whip on institutions not properly equipped to offer media studies. There are many graduates of journalism who do not observe the profession's ethics.

This can be seen in some media where content that is aired ignores the code of ethics. The number of trained journalists has gone down.

When one walks along the streets of any major town, it is common to see colleges that offer journalism and mass communication studies yet the graduates lack the proper journalistic training.

Media, in particular radio-which is a more common form-is a very powerful tool influencing a majority of citizens. Therefore, content must be thoroughly analysed before being aired.

MCK should ensure only trained journalists serve in media houses.