Skip to main content

How The Kenyan Government Negatively Uses the Media to Its Advantage

Corruption 
People expect the media to hold to account corrupt  government officials and politicians. However, bribery based or "brown envelope" journalism is becoming common in Kenya. Some journalists are asked to write positive stories in exchange for luxurious gifts.

Manipulation 
Media manipulation is a series of related techniques in which partisans create an image or argument that favour their particular interests (Coxall, 2013). 
Such tactics may include the use of propaganda, suppressing certain information or perspectives that do not suit an agenda, inducing other people to stop listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere. The media is manipulated in all manners by government to broadcast propaganda as news. What may seem as credible news outlets can sometimes knowingly be pushing political agendas and propaganda.

Hoaxing
A hoax is something intended to deceive or defraud. For something to become a hoax, the lie must have something more to offer. It must be outrageous, dramatic believable and ingenious.(McDougall, 1958) Politicians use hoaxes in order to achieve political purposes. Hoaxes receive national and global mainstream media attention.

Public relations stunts
It Involves an event or a sustained activity that is staged, primarily for gaining media attention. For instance the burning of ivory. It is a ritual we have been treated to by every administration since the Nyayo days. 
The government rolls out part of its stockpile of ivory and the president lights a bonfire for the cameras. (Gachara, 2015)
This PR stunt is meant to communicate to the world that Kenya has zero tolerance for poaching. The government always relies on dramatic pictures of burning ivory to obscure any critical interrogation of its record. 

References
Coxall,M. (2013). Human Manipulation; A Handbook: Cornelio books
Gachara, P. (5th March 2015) PR stunt hides a brutal truth about the ivory trade. Retrieved http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/03/pile-smoking-tusks-obscures-truth-ivory-trade-150304063404677.html 
McDougall, C. (1958) .Hoaxes. New York: Dover Publications
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cancel Culture: Modern Justice or Online Bullying?

  In today’s digital age, cancel culture seems to stir up more heated debate than most. Some hail it as a way for society to hold public figures and institutions accountable while others see it as a dangerous form of online bullying; an unforgiving, mob-driven take-down with real-life consequences. But what exactly is cancel culture, and is it helping or hurting our world? Let’s explore both sides of the coin. Cancel Culture as Modern Justice One of the strongest arguments for cancel culture is that it gives power to the powerless. For generations, marginalised voices were silenced by systems that protected the rich, the famous, and the powerful. Today, social media has changed that. When someone speaks out about racism, sexism, abuse, or corruption, their voice can echo around the globe within hours. The public can demand change and more importantly, demand accountability. Consider cases where traditional institutions failed to act until social pressure forced them to. In these mo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Men vs. Women: Do We Really Listen Differently?

Have you ever told a story to a guy, expecting an emotional reaction, only to get a “Hmm… that’s rough” in response? Or maybe you’ve shared something with a woman, and she immediately started asking ten follow-up questions about how you felt? If so, congratulations—you’ve witnessed firsthand how men and women often listen in very different ways. But why does this happen? Is it just personality differences, or is there something deeper at play? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of how men and women listen. Men: The Fixers For many men, listening is a mission. The goal? Find the problem and solve it. When a guy hears someone venting about a tough day, his brain starts scanning for solutions: ✅ “Did you try talking to your boss?” ✅ “Maybe you should switch gyms.” ✅ “Here’s what I would do…” This isn’t because men don’t care—it’s actually the opposite. They think the best way to help is to fix whatever’s wrong. The issue? Sometimes, the person talking doesn’t want a solution; ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bwana Kama Wewe Ungehesabu Maovu Yetu Lyrics

By G.A Chavalla,  St. Maurus Kurasini. Bwana kama wewe ungehesabu maovu yetu, (nani angesimama)*3 mbele yako. 1. Lakini kwako kuna msamaha, ili wewe uogopwe, nimemngoja Bwana, roho yangu, na neno lake nimelitumaini. 2. Nafsi yangu inamngoja Bwana, kuliko walinzi, walinzi waingojavyo asubuhi Naam walinzi waingojavyo asubuhi. 3. Ee Bwana toka vilindini, nimekulilia. Bwana sauti yangu usikie, masikio yako yasikie Dua zangu.
Post a Comment
Read more