Entry Instance

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{
    "id": 1102809,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1102809/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 69,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Senators, these rules of engagement were put in place in recognition of the strategic position that the media plays in information dissemination and reaching a much wider spectrum of the public than Parliament would otherwise. The work of the media in complementing the work of the Senate in democratic governance of the country cannot be gainsaid. The media plays a fundamental role in influencing and shaping public discourse and opinion, and in building trust in public institutions. Section 35 (1) of the Media Act provides that the media shall “…inform the public on issues of public interest and importance in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner whilst distinctly isolating opinion from fact...”. The media, in executing its work, must keep and maintain high professional and ethical standards and shall, at all times, have due regard to the Code of Conduct set out in the Second Schedule to the said Act. In this specific instance, no inquiry on its veracity was sought from the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit, the Office of the Clerk or indeed the Office of the Speaker before the publication of the complained of recording as a news item. The media and the Senate have a longstanding mutual and complementary relationship. It is worth noting that Parliament is open to the media and has always engaged the media through existing legal and institutional structures, including the Media Council of Kenya and the Editors Guild. In particular, the Media Council, which is established under the Media Council Act of 2013, is established to, among other things, promote and enhance ethical and professional standards amongst journalists and media enterprises. In furtherance of their mandate, the Media Council should ensure enforcement of the standards and code of conduct of the media at all times. In the present case, the conduct of the media houses in publishing the fictitious and fabricated recording of the proceedings of the Senate without due diligence and appropriate verification, was a clear breach of the Standing Orders and the rules as I have recited above. It is an abuse of the privilege and responsibility vested in the Fourth Estate to cover Parliamentary proceedings. The media houses abdicated their professional ethics by rushing to air a cheap and sensational fabrication without crosschecking and verifying the facts and authenticity of the clip. In this respect, Hon. Senators, Rule 7 (1) of the Broadcasting Rules provides that – “Any person who fails to comply with these Rules shall be liable to such penalty as the Senate may on the recommendation of the Committee on Privileges consider appropriate”."
}