Political Justifications of Media Freedom

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MEDIA AND FREEDOM IN KENYA History Throughout Africa, the Adam and Eves of newspapers were the government gazettes. Gazettes were introduced by the government as vehicles of transmitting state information to citizens.The pioneers of the press then were politicians rather than business men or mogul. Those in power constantly threatened media freedom. The nature of the autocratic rule that preceded the present regime transition was such that it left no room for the media to express independent views. Media were used to propagate the views of the ruling establishment or keep quiet. For example, one party constitutions contained provisions that limited the scope for citizens to express their views or associate together. The insistence of the government on a new role for the media was compounded by the fact that the leading newspapers in the country Nation and Standard were foreign owned. The foreign owned newspapers were hence easy prey for criticism by the independent government hence potential limitations to press freedom lurked in the air. • The threat to nationalization of such news papers Being commercial enterprises relying on commercial adverts they suited their editorial policies within the new editorial needs of the government rather than jeopardize their business interests. The government controlled and still does the only broadcasting station in the country with a nationwide reach. It also owns the Kenya News Agency. The press then became the important medium of government communication to, rather than with the people. As editors supported the one-party state to promote the national building effort they unconsciously undermined their independence in news coverage- in the long run, the press became the public relations arm of the government. Consequently journalists who did not do this were subject to government censure. Media in Kenya therefore owned
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