BWIRE: The news we need versus the news we prioritise

Over the years traditional media in Kenya and Africa in general has taken the front seat in fuelling collective panic and pessimism.

Traditional media has also played a big role in informing, educating and communicating a lot of issues, but the content is more geared towards creating panic, with the key denominator being negative news.

How is that? Just this week I contemplated on how with the current political regime, there are fewer power outages, at least where I stay.

The random blackouts and scheduled blackouts are rare, in fact the power outages in my area can now be counted per month.

However, should there be a dim story on a power outage anywhere that makes it to the main news outlets, the story might be carried with so much weight that it supports the narrative that we were made to get used to by the previous regime of frequent power outages.

Since last week, many people in Kenya are still talking about the happenings during the Ol Kalou by-elections, as sad as the situation on the ground may have been, the media has helped fuel this political agenda because of constant reporting.

These instances, and many others such as crime, insecurity and poverty, among others, is how traditional media tends to shape the intense imagination of an occurrence and panic to the public.

While the media may not dictate what people think, it significantly influences what they think about by deciding which issues receive the greatest prominence.

Traditional media in Kenya tends to dwell so much on political tension. Continuous and repetitive coverage of political events has over the years unintentionally amplified public anxiety, deepened political polarisation and has so far managed to divert attention from other pressing national concerns such as education, healthcare, employment, innovation, agriculture and climate resilience.

A recent example is the extensive coverage and analysis of events in Ol Kalou, which to an outsider and even Kenyans themselves, creates the perception that the country is in a constant state of crisis, even when many communities just remain peaceful.

Back during former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s political campaign days, the media would give full attention to protests, when Raila protesters, mainly from the low-income areas were challenged and fights ensued with the police, the political bigwig would appear in negative light to the rest of the Kenyans.

A lot of the perceptions about the former PM were formed by the extensive media coverage of the protests around his campaign.

He was for the longest time branded the ‘lord of poverty.’ Was that the case when he died and was mourned by the entire country? No.

In recent years, the government has sought to limit the live broadcast of incidents likely to inflame public panic or violence.

While such measures must always respect constitutional guarantees of press freedom, encouraging responsible, contextual reporting can help rebrand Kenya as a stable investment and tourism destination, fostering national confidence without compromising the public's right to information.

Prioritisation of positive and development-oriented news stories and documentaries with a lot of data whose knowledge will benefit many, would also serve diverse audiences across different career sectors.

Entrepreneurs can identify emerging investment opportunities, farmers gain access to agricultural innovations and market trends, students discover scholarships, new skill-sets, financial literacy and career pathways, professionals learn about technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, while tourists and investors develop greater confidence in Kenya's economic potential and stability.

This does not mean the media should ignore important political developments; rather, it should exercise editorial judgment by providing accurate, contextual and proportionate reporting.

A more balanced agenda would ensure that political stories are covered alongside constructive journalism that highlights solutions, development initiatives, economic opportunities and stories of resilience.

By resisting the temptation to sensationalise conflict for ratings and instead broadening the national conversation, Kenyan media can fulfil its democratic watchdog role while also promoting social cohesion, informed public discourse and national confidence.

Such an approach will enable Kenyans to remain informed without unnecessarily fuelling fear or panic and negative perception, agenda citizens indirectly sell out there about their own country.