Politics, politics and more politics. I hate it.
And yet it appears it is the stuff that appeals the most to our newspaper editors.
ON a day when a blueprint for the economic advancement of our country has been launched, some old school editors still prefer to make Kanu - a dying cockerel- the main news item of the day in our leading daily.
Will they ever get it right! That is what I think. But again maybe I am influenced by “Development communication scholars..” and maybe I just want to see development focused news in the media…still, I do not understand how a country that needs to develop a lot like ours would be living politics, eating politics and sleeping politics!
I guess we need to get rich first before we can decide to engage in the luxury of talking, talking and more talking.
What we need is actually a ban of politics from all newspapers.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Who Edits These Voices?
We rarely hear them. But a few times we see them. Dancing. Or standing nearby, mute, as their male counterparts talk the talk at press conferences. Until Ngilu brought them back. The subject? A dance.
Why did Ngilu bring them back? To fight a political war?
Michuki rattled. And Ngilu rose to the occasion, to remind us of the existence of these silent voices.
Michuki was criticising the way women dance. While the attack was particularly aimed at Ngilu, it remains for a fact that all we ever see of women when it comes to politics, is dance.
Women in the political arena are rarely heard. And their issues sometimes appear to be trivialised, to such an extent that they are always dumped together with those of children and youth.
Women are always silent on the political front. The few of them who manage to appear at press conferences with certain “luminaries” are always silent. The face of one Julia Ojiambo at ODM meetings is very common. But I haven’t heard her voice in a long time I wonder how it sounds….And the name Jael Mbogo sounds familiar. At one point I thought it was a man…until Lifestyle demystified the face behind the name last week. I have never heard her voice! Not to forget Mumbi Ngaru. She was vocal as a mayor at Thika. When she lost the position, her voice disappeared. Although those who know her would recognise her face at LDP press conferences. Even local comedians know how to imitate politicians in their ridiculous moments. None imitates a woman politician.
Women now appear to be flowers to make press conferences more beautiful. And of course, dancers. And now, the dance is being criticised. Do they want to take away the little role that is left for the women to play?
Women in politics in Kenya seem to be under threat. And the women’s movement seems to be lacking an ideology. Women have the numbers. But these numbers have failed considerably to turn into more female representation through elected positions. While neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda seem to be increasing the numbers of their political representatives, in Kenya the numbers seem to be decreasing. The few women in politics seem to be more interested in jostling for the few parliamentary nominations.
And now they are regrouping. At least going by the past weeks event. We are now seeing responses to an issue they consider “theirs.”
At a recent round table discussion on women’s issues, participants wondered whether women folk are better of 21 years after the phenomenal Nairobi 1985 meeting. The 1985 meeting aimed to see women on an equal footing with men, and its main agenda was inspired by the fact that women’s reproductive and productive roles were closely linked to the political, economic, social, cultural, legal, educational and religious conditions that constrained their advancement. It was seen that factors intensifying the economic exploitation, marginalization and oppression of women stemmed from chronic inequalities, injustices and exploitative conditions at the family, community, national, subregional, regional and international levels.
The Nairobi meeting aimed for full integration of women in the total development effort and to eliminate the structural imbalances that compounded and perpetuated women's disadvantages in society
Yet, as we ask ourselves, have the past 21 years seen an increase in participation of women in the economic and social development of those countries?
There are days when a husband would castigate his wife saying, “…who wears the trousers in this house” whenever she perceived her to be threatening his power position. Now we are all wearing trousers, and equality in homes seems to be increasing. More women are working and more and more of them are getting financially secure. Yet in the political arena, women seem to be missing out.
In many work places, it is common to find women doing the same job as men and being paid less.
What is the women’s movement planning in 2007?
Have they already started on their agenda? Dance? Approved styles and disapproved styles? Perhaps we will see another Sierra Leone, another Johnson Sirleaf?
Are we seeing a renaissance from the 1985 Nairobi conference and the years after… when ‘Beijing’was on the lips of everyone and empowered women were said to have gone to Beijing even if they have never set foot outside the borders of the country?
Kenyan women’s movement is still weeping from the losses that could have been earned in the draft constitution, which promised to give a legal framework for their participation in elective politics.
Why did Ngilu bring them back? To fight a political war?
Michuki rattled. And Ngilu rose to the occasion, to remind us of the existence of these silent voices.
Michuki was criticising the way women dance. While the attack was particularly aimed at Ngilu, it remains for a fact that all we ever see of women when it comes to politics, is dance.
Women in the political arena are rarely heard. And their issues sometimes appear to be trivialised, to such an extent that they are always dumped together with those of children and youth.
Women are always silent on the political front. The few of them who manage to appear at press conferences with certain “luminaries” are always silent. The face of one Julia Ojiambo at ODM meetings is very common. But I haven’t heard her voice in a long time I wonder how it sounds….And the name Jael Mbogo sounds familiar. At one point I thought it was a man…until Lifestyle demystified the face behind the name last week. I have never heard her voice! Not to forget Mumbi Ngaru. She was vocal as a mayor at Thika. When she lost the position, her voice disappeared. Although those who know her would recognise her face at LDP press conferences. Even local comedians know how to imitate politicians in their ridiculous moments. None imitates a woman politician.
Women now appear to be flowers to make press conferences more beautiful. And of course, dancers. And now, the dance is being criticised. Do they want to take away the little role that is left for the women to play?
Women in politics in Kenya seem to be under threat. And the women’s movement seems to be lacking an ideology. Women have the numbers. But these numbers have failed considerably to turn into more female representation through elected positions. While neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Uganda seem to be increasing the numbers of their political representatives, in Kenya the numbers seem to be decreasing. The few women in politics seem to be more interested in jostling for the few parliamentary nominations.
And now they are regrouping. At least going by the past weeks event. We are now seeing responses to an issue they consider “theirs.”
At a recent round table discussion on women’s issues, participants wondered whether women folk are better of 21 years after the phenomenal Nairobi 1985 meeting. The 1985 meeting aimed to see women on an equal footing with men, and its main agenda was inspired by the fact that women’s reproductive and productive roles were closely linked to the political, economic, social, cultural, legal, educational and religious conditions that constrained their advancement. It was seen that factors intensifying the economic exploitation, marginalization and oppression of women stemmed from chronic inequalities, injustices and exploitative conditions at the family, community, national, subregional, regional and international levels.
The Nairobi meeting aimed for full integration of women in the total development effort and to eliminate the structural imbalances that compounded and perpetuated women's disadvantages in society
Yet, as we ask ourselves, have the past 21 years seen an increase in participation of women in the economic and social development of those countries?
There are days when a husband would castigate his wife saying, “…who wears the trousers in this house” whenever she perceived her to be threatening his power position. Now we are all wearing trousers, and equality in homes seems to be increasing. More women are working and more and more of them are getting financially secure. Yet in the political arena, women seem to be missing out.
In many work places, it is common to find women doing the same job as men and being paid less.
What is the women’s movement planning in 2007?
Have they already started on their agenda? Dance? Approved styles and disapproved styles? Perhaps we will see another Sierra Leone, another Johnson Sirleaf?
Are we seeing a renaissance from the 1985 Nairobi conference and the years after… when ‘Beijing’was on the lips of everyone and empowered women were said to have gone to Beijing even if they have never set foot outside the borders of the country?
Kenyan women’s movement is still weeping from the losses that could have been earned in the draft constitution, which promised to give a legal framework for their participation in elective politics.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Pour him a stiff one
In Pharmacology all drugs have two names, a trade name and a generic name. For example, the trade name of Tylenol has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also called Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra.
After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
In other drug news, Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer.
It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of cocktails, highballs, and just a good old-fashioned stiff drink. Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: Mount & Do
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra.
After careful consideration by a team of government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
In other drug news, Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer.
It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of cocktails, highballs, and just a good old-fashioned stiff drink. Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of: Mount & Do
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Nation ya Majambazi...Kunamambo
Swaleh Mdoe (a.k.a. Mimi ni wenu Swaleh)
Jamaa mpenda wake za watu. siku moja alikuwa akila uroda na mke wa
jirani mtaa wa pili usiku wakati mumewe hayupo. Ghafla, mume karudi na kuanza kupiga
hodi mlango wa mbele. Mke kusikia mumewe karudi, kahamaki na kukimbilia
kumtoajamaa kupitia mlango wa nyuma. Jamaa alikurupuka mbio, akaruka ukuta akiwa uchi wa mnyama,akakimbia hadi nyumbani kwake.
Alipofika kwa mkewe, akamwambia kapigwa na majambazi njiani wakamvua
nguo zote na kumwibia kila kitu.
Mkewe akamwambia "Pole mpenzi lakini hawa majambazi si watu wema kabisa,
yaani wamekuvua nguo zote na kukuvalisha Condom!
Swaleh bursting with laughter: Naam ... Nikipiga tama la maji,nawe ukitafakari hayo, ebu tupate kibwagizo cha leo...
Jamaa mpenda wake za watu. siku moja alikuwa akila uroda na mke wa
jirani mtaa wa pili usiku wakati mumewe hayupo. Ghafla, mume karudi na kuanza kupiga
hodi mlango wa mbele. Mke kusikia mumewe karudi, kahamaki na kukimbilia
kumtoajamaa kupitia mlango wa nyuma. Jamaa alikurupuka mbio, akaruka ukuta akiwa uchi wa mnyama,akakimbia hadi nyumbani kwake.
Alipofika kwa mkewe, akamwambia kapigwa na majambazi njiani wakamvua
nguo zote na kumwibia kila kitu.
Mkewe akamwambia "Pole mpenzi lakini hawa majambazi si watu wema kabisa,
yaani wamekuvua nguo zote na kukuvalisha Condom!
Swaleh bursting with laughter: Naam ... Nikipiga tama la maji,nawe ukitafakari hayo, ebu tupate kibwagizo cha leo...
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Tek no lo ji
Nairobi, my cityIf one pronounces the word 'technology' in my local accent, it sounds like 'tek no lo ji' and it has a completely different meaning. It is a whole sentense. Ask any dholuo speaker and you will laugh!
“I have become amused, I’ve become blind…I’ve became what I know not….” those are words of PM Dawn, in one of his songs whose title I forget. And that is exacly what 'tek no lo ji' does to me at times.
PM Dawn should have called himself AM Dusk! All the same, I identify with him because I have become something that I know not. It the hustle and bustle of life, I have become a robot, and I barely have time for myself or my assignment.
I wanted to write something on blogs…and when I did a Google search, I discovered so many ‘bytes’ and even ‘cookies’ have been dedicated to this topic already.And suddenly I am hungry. For both the cookies and the bytes in their real meaning! Stuff like “Genre and Gender variations in weblogs” where the author talks about some “gender genie” which investigates the language, gender and genre in weblogs and computer mediated communication. And there is more! Such as conversations in the blogosphere… and others. I had no idea that a simple concept would elicit so much attention from researchers!
Maybe it is because of the nature of blogs. Yes, they are online. That is why probably, most research on them is posted online. Then they are new (at least to us back in the third world)
Speaking of new technologies, one of my colleagues has been mesmerized by a new (at least to us) program called Google earth. We literally toured the city of Nairobi, on our desktops! I actually accessed my (rented) house, from my office. I also accessed my village, on the shores of lake Victoria…and now I am aware that big brother is actually watching. All I can say is that, we are excited. And we need to find ways of using these technologies to ensure no more starvation in the north eastern parts of Kenya – or even bandit attacks and cattle rustlers. Could we use this technology to monitor cattle rustlers in Samburu, Pokot and all those other prone areas?
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Agony is this
Agony is when you have about six days left to hand in a project and you got absolutely no idea where to start! Worse still, there are several other deadlines to me met in the workplace and you think you are just going nuts!
(-:)
(-:)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Business model for online journalism
Dear change leaders,
Keeping in mind the principle of ‘better late than never” -I hereby submit my thoughts on last week’s trigger questions
1. The best business model for online journalism.
An online journalist works with one of the most fragile mediums. One moment your website can be up and running efficiently and one moment it can be down. And the worst bit, sometimes when it is too popular, the site might not be able to handle all the traffic, too many people trying to access it at once –and the server can be unavailable.
From practical experience, i once posted hot breaking news on our news site and within a very short time; the site was unavailable as too many people were trying to access it at the same time!
I think the guiding principles should:
i) Ensure that the site is available for everyone round the clock – whether there is a big breaking news event or not. This can be done by using simple technology –the simpler the site, the simpler it is to run. This means few malfunctioning elements and the fewer parts compromised in case the site comes under attack from hackers and unauthorized people trying to change the content
ii) Use web servers in different locations – this ensures different hubs connect people in different networks and if one fails, then the site will still be available. It is also important to use a DNS server which can balance requests for web pages evenly over all the servers.
iii) Have national and international editions e.g washingtonpost.com and BBC.co.uk [among others] have dual home page strategy, where there are international and local homepages, catering for the different audience needs
iv) Use Content management systems – these make it easier for people who do not have web design skills to upload content on the site, hence ensuring the site is constantly updated.
v) Develop innovating strategies for generating revenue, if not for profit, at least to enable the site run.
2. The media can make money online
While the amount of revenue earned from the print editions are many times more than those earn from online editions, online news sites still make some money.
This can be done through:
i) Subscriptions - eg. For digital papers, delivered online, that are a replica of the print editions, payment for “premium content” and accessing digital archives for a fee.
ii) Advertisements – having advert banners and billboards on the news sites.
iii) E-newsletters- can also be a source for advertisement through e-mail
3. Some creative ways of generating revenue online
i) Having replica digital editions of print editions
ii) Having premium content which is accessed at a fee
iii) Advertising revenue –e.g per page view
iv) Being a portal for online business, e.g through classifieds
4. Some services that we can develop for online as news organization
i) Developing classified sections to increase revenues
ii) Creatively using new technologies as they develop- e.g SMS news alerts
iii) Using online resources to market print resources
iv) Developing premium content – through quality stories as well as archive services
5. Elements of “old media” business model that we can transfer online
- Everything – such as management styles, journalistic principles, house style among others
6. Who can be involved in developing our online business modeli) Web designers, ii) ISPs (Internet service providers) marketers and entrepreneurs
Keeping in mind the principle of ‘better late than never” -I hereby submit my thoughts on last week’s trigger questions
1. The best business model for online journalism.
An online journalist works with one of the most fragile mediums. One moment your website can be up and running efficiently and one moment it can be down. And the worst bit, sometimes when it is too popular, the site might not be able to handle all the traffic, too many people trying to access it at once –and the server can be unavailable.
From practical experience, i once posted hot breaking news on our news site and within a very short time; the site was unavailable as too many people were trying to access it at the same time!
I think the guiding principles should:
i) Ensure that the site is available for everyone round the clock – whether there is a big breaking news event or not. This can be done by using simple technology –the simpler the site, the simpler it is to run. This means few malfunctioning elements and the fewer parts compromised in case the site comes under attack from hackers and unauthorized people trying to change the content
ii) Use web servers in different locations – this ensures different hubs connect people in different networks and if one fails, then the site will still be available. It is also important to use a DNS server which can balance requests for web pages evenly over all the servers.
iii) Have national and international editions e.g washingtonpost.com and BBC.co.uk [among others] have dual home page strategy, where there are international and local homepages, catering for the different audience needs
iv) Use Content management systems – these make it easier for people who do not have web design skills to upload content on the site, hence ensuring the site is constantly updated.
v) Develop innovating strategies for generating revenue, if not for profit, at least to enable the site run.
2. The media can make money online
While the amount of revenue earned from the print editions are many times more than those earn from online editions, online news sites still make some money.
This can be done through:
i) Subscriptions - eg. For digital papers, delivered online, that are a replica of the print editions, payment for “premium content” and accessing digital archives for a fee.
ii) Advertisements – having advert banners and billboards on the news sites.
iii) E-newsletters- can also be a source for advertisement through e-mail
3. Some creative ways of generating revenue online
i) Having replica digital editions of print editions
ii) Having premium content which is accessed at a fee
iii) Advertising revenue –e.g per page view
iv) Being a portal for online business, e.g through classifieds
4. Some services that we can develop for online as news organization
i) Developing classified sections to increase revenues
ii) Creatively using new technologies as they develop- e.g SMS news alerts
iii) Using online resources to market print resources
iv) Developing premium content – through quality stories as well as archive services
5. Elements of “old media” business model that we can transfer online
- Everything – such as management styles, journalistic principles, house style among others
6. Who can be involved in developing our online business modeli) Web designers, ii) ISPs (Internet service providers) marketers and entrepreneurs
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh death, oh death where, where is thy sting? Oh death where, where is they victory?
This statement rings melodious in my mind. It is from Handel’s messiah, and I can listen to it endlessly, without getting tired.
But for the last few days, I sing it in my heart as I think of Easter. And the resurrection. It is said that Jesus overcame death…and this is supposed to be the core of our salvation, i mean, we who are christians.
And just the other day, some ministers perished in a plane crash. And we saw the victory of death. At least over Kibaki.
Deaths victory for him was so much that he decided to go back to Godly ways. In the process, he asked Kenyans to pray and be forgiven…what have Kenyans done to be asking for this forgiveness?
The sting of death is...when people were massacred in Turbi, Northeastern province, and Kibaki did not call for prayers. Neither did he send those army jets we see being paraded on national holidays to protect the lives of these very deserving Kenyans.
The sting of death is ...only when cabinet ministers die?
Death’s victory. And I’m thinking, who is the winner when Kenyans in North-eastern are dying of famine (which can and should be prevented)
Who is the victor, when money is allocated to the wrong projects, and the rest of the country continues to suffer endlessly?
Who is the victor, when unscrupulous people steal from the public coffers and enjoy a lavish lifestyle, while the rest languish in untold suffering?
I am still wondering, in this death and resurrection period…oh death, where is thy sting?
******
The Media Maverick columnist got it all wrong
In his weekly column, he starts by saying that news people forgot the fourth medium- the internet, that they could exploit “to a staggering effect” to inform netizens of the Marsabit plane tragedy.
He goes on further to claim that the Daily Nation only carried a 2*2 inch photo on the internet edition of the ill- fated planes’ tail. He surely did not look better into that site because I personally uploaded those photos. Or maybe his browser had a problem?
While it is true that the BBC website offered its readers “the story in pictures,” and had a wealth of links such as country profiles- it is not true that the Kenyan online news continues to be basic and static. Indeed. The first place everyone –even those in Kenya who have internet access - go to whenever there is breaking news, is the websites!
And there is evidence that our audiences are always satisfied with the services they receive because of the tremendous amount of feedback we (online editors) get through e-mails and comments on the site, and through online discussion forums.
Most Kenyan online news sites are constantly updated throughout the day, using the last technology applicable.
It is not true that the country has refused to accept the online platform as a major news medium. If this where true, the millions of online readers at nationmedia.com would have already shifted their base, to the so called intenational channels, who, by the way, rarely report anything positive from the region.
On the fateful day, as the president declared 3-days of national mourning, no less than 30 minutes elapsed before a full update was posted on the daily nation website, in addition to the breaking news story that was already there.
If the media maverick wants to do a critique of online journalism, there are several avenues he could start with, not the sizes of photos posted on the sites.
This statement rings melodious in my mind. It is from Handel’s messiah, and I can listen to it endlessly, without getting tired.
But for the last few days, I sing it in my heart as I think of Easter. And the resurrection. It is said that Jesus overcame death…and this is supposed to be the core of our salvation, i mean, we who are christians.
And just the other day, some ministers perished in a plane crash. And we saw the victory of death. At least over Kibaki.
Deaths victory for him was so much that he decided to go back to Godly ways. In the process, he asked Kenyans to pray and be forgiven…what have Kenyans done to be asking for this forgiveness?
The sting of death is...when people were massacred in Turbi, Northeastern province, and Kibaki did not call for prayers. Neither did he send those army jets we see being paraded on national holidays to protect the lives of these very deserving Kenyans.
The sting of death is ...only when cabinet ministers die?
Death’s victory. And I’m thinking, who is the winner when Kenyans in North-eastern are dying of famine (which can and should be prevented)
Who is the victor, when money is allocated to the wrong projects, and the rest of the country continues to suffer endlessly?
Who is the victor, when unscrupulous people steal from the public coffers and enjoy a lavish lifestyle, while the rest languish in untold suffering?
I am still wondering, in this death and resurrection period…oh death, where is thy sting?
******
The Media Maverick columnist got it all wrong
In his weekly column, he starts by saying that news people forgot the fourth medium- the internet, that they could exploit “to a staggering effect” to inform netizens of the Marsabit plane tragedy.
He goes on further to claim that the Daily Nation only carried a 2*2 inch photo on the internet edition of the ill- fated planes’ tail. He surely did not look better into that site because I personally uploaded those photos. Or maybe his browser had a problem?
While it is true that the BBC website offered its readers “the story in pictures,” and had a wealth of links such as country profiles- it is not true that the Kenyan online news continues to be basic and static. Indeed. The first place everyone –even those in Kenya who have internet access - go to whenever there is breaking news, is the websites!
And there is evidence that our audiences are always satisfied with the services they receive because of the tremendous amount of feedback we (online editors) get through e-mails and comments on the site, and through online discussion forums.
Most Kenyan online news sites are constantly updated throughout the day, using the last technology applicable.
It is not true that the country has refused to accept the online platform as a major news medium. If this where true, the millions of online readers at nationmedia.com would have already shifted their base, to the so called intenational channels, who, by the way, rarely report anything positive from the region.
On the fateful day, as the president declared 3-days of national mourning, no less than 30 minutes elapsed before a full update was posted on the daily nation website, in addition to the breaking news story that was already there.
If the media maverick wants to do a critique of online journalism, there are several avenues he could start with, not the sizes of photos posted on the sites.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
What drives us?
What drives us?
I don’t know what drives people. Or even what drives them to be great thinkers. J P Satre (and Simone de Beauvoir) are some of the people I admire. Well, I’m actually taking this bit from my old diary. At this particular moment, I don’t really think I admire him.
I can’t remember the main reasons why I admired him…because I wrote this some two years ago! Anyway, one thing about JP Satres’ ideas is that he did not believe in God. And yet today I went to church…actually for the first time in almost a year. Its not that i don'n like going to church, just that my work does not allow me to go on Sunday! Because i always work on Sunday. I go to church sometimes on a Wednesday evening, but that mass never feels like the Sunday one!
Any way, on this particular Sunday, I experienced some great change. Was it joy or happiness? I really can’t describe it but it is the kind of feeling I used to get when I first got fascinated with chatting online.
And I remembered. When I was a child I attended mass everyday. And sometimes when I step into that building I do not feel like I have missed anything. It is like a routine that I followed so many times and even mastered it. Every time they open the big book to read some verse of the bible…it is not new. I can almost say the next sentence. And yet, if one does not regularly attend church, society frowns on them.
Church going is a routine that we have mastered forever. I think about communication theories that talk about “conditioning”. If I put it in simple language….there was a guy named Pavlov. He had dogs. He fed them at a particular time daily..or is it he rang a bell when feeding them? Anyway, the dogs associated the bell to food…. If they had a capacity to think we can effectively say, they stopped thinking.
I think I admired both Satre and de Beauvoir because they challenged the cultural and social assumptions – and expectations of their society towards them.
Must we go to church every Sunday?
I don’t know what drives people. Or even what drives them to be great thinkers. J P Satre (and Simone de Beauvoir) are some of the people I admire. Well, I’m actually taking this bit from my old diary. At this particular moment, I don’t really think I admire him.
I can’t remember the main reasons why I admired him…because I wrote this some two years ago! Anyway, one thing about JP Satres’ ideas is that he did not believe in God. And yet today I went to church…actually for the first time in almost a year. Its not that i don'n like going to church, just that my work does not allow me to go on Sunday! Because i always work on Sunday. I go to church sometimes on a Wednesday evening, but that mass never feels like the Sunday one!
Any way, on this particular Sunday, I experienced some great change. Was it joy or happiness? I really can’t describe it but it is the kind of feeling I used to get when I first got fascinated with chatting online.
And I remembered. When I was a child I attended mass everyday. And sometimes when I step into that building I do not feel like I have missed anything. It is like a routine that I followed so many times and even mastered it. Every time they open the big book to read some verse of the bible…it is not new. I can almost say the next sentence. And yet, if one does not regularly attend church, society frowns on them.
Church going is a routine that we have mastered forever. I think about communication theories that talk about “conditioning”. If I put it in simple language….there was a guy named Pavlov. He had dogs. He fed them at a particular time daily..or is it he rang a bell when feeding them? Anyway, the dogs associated the bell to food…. If they had a capacity to think we can effectively say, they stopped thinking.
I think I admired both Satre and de Beauvoir because they challenged the cultural and social assumptions – and expectations of their society towards them.
Must we go to church every Sunday?
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Quelles sont les TIC?
Les TIC sont les Technologies de information et communication.
Les Technologies de l’information, qui implique- les ordinateurs
Technologies de communication, qui peuvent inclure – les téléphones, conférence vidéo
Le TIC sont les technologies qui soutien la communication par les ordinateurs, l’Internet, et les technologies de www.
Comment est-ce que les TIC peuvent aider la formation?
L’Afrique manque de spécialistes des sciences et mathématique. De plus, l’Afrique n’a pas de ressources électroniques bien développés. Alors, le processus de développement des modules de l’apprentissage libre et de l’éducation à distance (AleD)peut améliorer l’éducation à distance dans une manière économique et flexible.
L’éducation ALeD suive les exigences du marché africain - dans une manière évolutive et viable. Cette approche peut augmenter le nombre des étudiants sans une augmentation des ressources, et aussi reverser le concept de «drainage de cerveaux»
En Afrique on consomme toujours ce qu’on ne produit pas, pourtant, il est important de produire ce qu’on consomme. Ce pourquoi il est important de maîtriser les TIC et developer les produits qui peuvent aider le processus de développement en afrique.
Il est important de utiliser les contenus libres «les contenus ouverts.» et de créer des «contenus libres et de logiciels de sources-ouverts»
Les avantages de l’apprentissage électronique
• La création et partage de savoir
• Liens aux ressources électroniques des fournisseurs externes
• Références en ligne
• Existence de sources libres et des contenus ouverts
Les Technologies de l’information, qui implique- les ordinateurs
Technologies de communication, qui peuvent inclure – les téléphones, conférence vidéo
Le TIC sont les technologies qui soutien la communication par les ordinateurs, l’Internet, et les technologies de www.
Comment est-ce que les TIC peuvent aider la formation?
L’Afrique manque de spécialistes des sciences et mathématique. De plus, l’Afrique n’a pas de ressources électroniques bien développés. Alors, le processus de développement des modules de l’apprentissage libre et de l’éducation à distance (AleD)peut améliorer l’éducation à distance dans une manière économique et flexible.
L’éducation ALeD suive les exigences du marché africain - dans une manière évolutive et viable. Cette approche peut augmenter le nombre des étudiants sans une augmentation des ressources, et aussi reverser le concept de «drainage de cerveaux»
En Afrique on consomme toujours ce qu’on ne produit pas, pourtant, il est important de produire ce qu’on consomme. Ce pourquoi il est important de maîtriser les TIC et developer les produits qui peuvent aider le processus de développement en afrique.
Il est important de utiliser les contenus libres «les contenus ouverts.» et de créer des «contenus libres et de logiciels de sources-ouverts»
Les avantages de l’apprentissage électronique
• La création et partage de savoir
• Liens aux ressources électroniques des fournisseurs externes
• Références en ligne
• Existence de sources libres et des contenus ouverts
Sunday, March 26, 2006
ICT trigger answers
Recently I attended a workshop where the participants were trying to write a curriculum for teacher education using ICT. One of their worries was the issue of quality assurance. Now that I am in an online course, this issue has never been timelier.
For instance, I have seen people answering the trigger questions even before I see the questions themselves and now that I am about to attempt them, I feel like I am already being influenced by other people’s answers.
TRIGGER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
1. What ICT Journalism means
According to the online dictionary of computing, ICT is the study of the technology used to handle information and aid communication. The phrase was coined by Stevenson in his 1997 report to the UK government and promoted by the new National Curriculum documents for the UK in 2000.
According to the Wikipedia, Information technology (IT) or Information and communication(s) technology (ICT) is a broad subject concerned with technology and other aspects of managing and processing (converting, storing , transmiting e.t.c) information, especially in large organizations.
The Wicktionary defines journalism as the activity or profession of being a journalist. It defines a journalist as a reporter, or a person who makes a living by reporting on news and current events.
We can therefore conclude that ICT journalism is about using communication technologies to report, manage and process news and current events.
2. ICT can make a difference in Journalism.
ICT has already made tremendous differences in journalism.
a) It has created greater accessibility of news. For example, Nation Media Group sells its newspaper in a digital format worldwide through newsstand.com and NewspaperDirect.com, in addition 65,000 readers also read the online version of the newspaper at nationmedia.com . This in turn makes it easier to gather information.
b) It has created more markets for the journalists’ products. Though ICT related technologies, a local newspaper can have a global reach
c) It has created new products. For instance, using mobile phones to get information such as Nation Mobile
d) It has created a new breed of journalists, such as bloggers. Any one can thus write and publish stories online
e) It has eased the work of journalists by making the information gathering and dissemination much easier. The digital revolution has eased the handling of bulk information by reducing sizes of files, creating an easier interaction /compatibility of different file formats.
3. ICT does not kill newspapers – on the contrary, it builds them
I have had running arguments with news editors many a time, as they claim that once we post a story on the net, our rivals will pick it up. Sometimes they say people will not buy the paper after reading it online. But I believe online “papers” cannot kill newspapers because fundamentally their structures are different. They are intrinsically “different” products.
a) it creates internationally recognized brands
b) It speeds up the news gathering and dissemination process.
4. ICT changes Journalism in many ways
a) It has created a new breed of journalists such as bloggers.
b) Improves journalism by creating accessibility. Most major news organizations have a free online presence
c) Improves research on stories. For instance, on the BBC website, there are links to major stories. e.g. If you want to read on the now famous Kenyan Anti-corruption crusader, you will find all stories related having links next to the one you opened, in addition to other resources e.g. a download of his report and video or audio links. Here is a link to Githongo stories on BBC.
5. The most useful information I got through reading lecture notes
Somebody once said that “learning is finding out what you already know…” this statement rings true for the introductory part of the course so far.
6. The most important ICT tools in my news organisation
There is a database software system that integrates stories (copy), graphics, page planning and page layout system as well as the advertising component. It also integrates a system that manages stories coming in from the wire services as well as the regional bureaux. I think it is really important because, when it has been shut down for regular maintenance (like today) no output of stories take place at all!
For the online editions, there is a content management system that integrates both stories and adverts that go on the web.
How can we generate more stories about ICTs
a) By participating in discussion fora to find out the latest news
b) By reading extensively
c) By following up ICT news makers and industry leaders
For instance, I have seen people answering the trigger questions even before I see the questions themselves and now that I am about to attempt them, I feel like I am already being influenced by other people’s answers.
TRIGGER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
1. What ICT Journalism means
According to the online dictionary of computing, ICT is the study of the technology used to handle information and aid communication. The phrase was coined by Stevenson in his 1997 report to the UK government and promoted by the new National Curriculum documents for the UK in 2000.
According to the Wikipedia, Information technology (IT) or Information and communication(s) technology (ICT) is a broad subject concerned with technology and other aspects of managing and processing (converting, storing , transmiting e.t.c) information, especially in large organizations.
The Wicktionary defines journalism as the activity or profession of being a journalist. It defines a journalist as a reporter, or a person who makes a living by reporting on news and current events.
We can therefore conclude that ICT journalism is about using communication technologies to report, manage and process news and current events.
2. ICT can make a difference in Journalism.
ICT has already made tremendous differences in journalism.
a) It has created greater accessibility of news. For example, Nation Media Group sells its newspaper in a digital format worldwide through newsstand.com and NewspaperDirect.com, in addition 65,000 readers also read the online version of the newspaper at nationmedia.com . This in turn makes it easier to gather information.
b) It has created more markets for the journalists’ products. Though ICT related technologies, a local newspaper can have a global reach
c) It has created new products. For instance, using mobile phones to get information such as Nation Mobile
d) It has created a new breed of journalists, such as bloggers. Any one can thus write and publish stories online
e) It has eased the work of journalists by making the information gathering and dissemination much easier. The digital revolution has eased the handling of bulk information by reducing sizes of files, creating an easier interaction /compatibility of different file formats.
3. ICT does not kill newspapers – on the contrary, it builds them
I have had running arguments with news editors many a time, as they claim that once we post a story on the net, our rivals will pick it up. Sometimes they say people will not buy the paper after reading it online. But I believe online “papers” cannot kill newspapers because fundamentally their structures are different. They are intrinsically “different” products.
a) it creates internationally recognized brands
b) It speeds up the news gathering and dissemination process.
4. ICT changes Journalism in many ways
a) It has created a new breed of journalists such as bloggers.
b) Improves journalism by creating accessibility. Most major news organizations have a free online presence
c) Improves research on stories. For instance, on the BBC website, there are links to major stories. e.g. If you want to read on the now famous Kenyan Anti-corruption crusader, you will find all stories related having links next to the one you opened, in addition to other resources e.g. a download of his report and video or audio links. Here is a link to Githongo stories on BBC.
5. The most useful information I got through reading lecture notes
Somebody once said that “learning is finding out what you already know…” this statement rings true for the introductory part of the course so far.
6. The most important ICT tools in my news organisation
There is a database software system that integrates stories (copy), graphics, page planning and page layout system as well as the advertising component. It also integrates a system that manages stories coming in from the wire services as well as the regional bureaux. I think it is really important because, when it has been shut down for regular maintenance (like today) no output of stories take place at all!
For the online editions, there is a content management system that integrates both stories and adverts that go on the web.
How can we generate more stories about ICTs
a) By participating in discussion fora to find out the latest news
b) By reading extensively
c) By following up ICT news makers and industry leaders
Sunday, March 19, 2006
More about me
This is how i look.
I love music, music and more music. From Handel, Mozart, Tchaikowski to Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Josh Groban, to Poxi Pressure, Suzzana Owiyo, Ogoya Nengo and Jack Nyadundo.
I love reading everything. From the Seven habits to quantum leap thinking, Les Miserables, Culture is Rutan...
TRAVEL: I recently went to Northen Uganda and Southern Sudan. In a statement, all i can say is that it was a trip "back to the 19th century" what with "concentration camp" like life in the Internally displaced people's camps in Northern Uganda to Children dying preventable deaths in Juba and Yei?
WOW!
Finally! I have always wanted to create a blog but i thought this might be a very hard process- i mean having my own blog. With a little push from the online journalism course sponsored by penplusbytes, i finally see that i can actually have my own blog! And yet it is easier than i imagined!
So far i have enjoyed the learning process. I guess it is going to be a nice experience.
About me
I am a typically conservative girl, now engaging in non conservative ideas - like blogging. I earn my living from editing stories - posted on the website of one of my country's leading dailies. I am Kenyan, single ...and looking! and i love to learn everything! and languages.
Life is fun. Enjoy it
So far i have enjoyed the learning process. I guess it is going to be a nice experience.
About me
I am a typically conservative girl, now engaging in non conservative ideas - like blogging. I earn my living from editing stories - posted on the website of one of my country's leading dailies. I am Kenyan, single ...and looking! and i love to learn everything! and languages.
Life is fun. Enjoy it
Work History
For the last approx. two years, I have been burning the midnight oil -literrally, editing the online versions of my organisation's publications - The Daily Nation and The EastAfrican.Previously, i worked with three organisations. (all internships) From women's rights, communication and advocacy to communicating science issues.
This photo was taken when i was doing a temporary job with a phamaceutical company based here in Nairobi.
I later quit to pursue my heart's dream -Journalism and Communications.
I am a diligent girl who has a passion to succeed in all my work.
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