By GPC News Desk
Journalism patrons from four counties in the Upper Eastern region have been urged to equip student journalists with skills to identify misinformation and disinformation in an increasingly digital media environment.
The call was made during a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) forum held in Isiolo recently, bringing together 15 journalism patrons from Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Laikipia counties.
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Organised by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the inaugural regional forum is part of the Council’s programme to promote responsible journalism at school level and strengthen media and information literacy among young people.
The forum introduced the patrons to key MIL concepts, including the identification of misinformation and disinformation, while strengthening the link between school journalism clubs and MCK in promoting digital literacy.
MCK Director of Media Training and Development Victor Bwire said young people needed practical skills to navigate an information environment where audiences can also become content producers.
“Today, we are no longer just consumers of news, but also broadcasters. For our students, the ability to distinguish between verified facts and manipulated media content is a survival skill,” Bwire said.
He said journalism patrons had a critical role in mentoring students on ethical journalism, information verification and responsible engagement with digital platforms.
Bwire said the skills were increasingly important as young people consumed and shared information across social media and other digital platforms.
MCK Meru Regional Coordinator Jacob Nyongesa said the role of journalism patrons had changed alongside the media landscape, requiring them to help students understand both the opportunities and risks presented by digital technology.
“As a patron, you are no longer just teaching students how to read and write. You are teaching students how to best achieve nuances of journalism, how to report ethically, and how to discern facts from viral fiction,” Nyongesa said.
MCK Kisumu Regional Coordinator Teddy Evans told the patrons that media literacy was important to the functioning of a democratic society, noting that young people needed the ability to critically assess the information they encounter.
“By equipping the patrons with the necessary skills, the Media Council of Kenya and the senior schools have taken a proactive step toward fostering a generation of critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens,” Evans said.
The forum ended with the drafting of an action plan to strengthen journalism clubs in participating schools, with the initiative expected to be extended to other schools in the region.
The patrons also shared experiences, challenges and successes during a roundtable discussion, while a committee was established to coordinate future MIL forums in the region.
