the insider

Being in the media is fun; if you are part of the action. That is, you are part of the generation of content process- idea wise, or the actual manual work.

I have realized there are so many people, unknown, behind the sins who actually wear their asses off, as the big men take credit. No bad thoughts about that, it happens everywhere.

Anyway, this particular thirsty (and hungry) Thursday, I have done my share of chasing. Some have seen me as a nuisance. I know with a little tweaking, I’ll be good. Yesterday, I submitted a story targeting young kids. The editor hasn’t responded, meaning, it may not have been as impressive (short, or whatever the case).

I may come accross as too ambitous and my plans ambiguous, but that’s how i have made it up to here.

Through creative messes.

Sometimes, it is a bit frustrating (this is the third week) but you carry on with a brave heart.

Let’s see how the rubber will melt, when it hits the tarmac.

Next

I’ve completed my stint as the editor in chief of this campus newspaper. I know, i know, this page should have been more vibrant during my reign there, but hear hear, there is no excuse for the prolonged silence. I have a well of stories to share, but i think with the current situation (of looking for a place to exercise the power of the pen – which i hope will come by soon) i shall let them trickle in to the web, little by little.

Some are hilarious, others are downright depressing, while others are dare devil tales of your usual campus journalist.

None death defying, tsk.

Altogether, i feel under pressure to pursue and follow the paths of my predecessors. Meeting lecturers who know of my stint, the hints are not as subtle as such and i am wondering if there is anything wrong with me. Do they think i lack ambition? Is there a defined path for one to follow? Do i have to work for Nation to be considered as one who is making it?

The clock is ticking for them. They are waiting for instant fame and recognition of my so-called talent, but I don’t see myself following that path (But if that call comes through on Friday).

I see myself establishing myself elsewhere. In a new media frontier. Breathing into life some newspaper project, dad and i have been sketching on for sometime.

I just want to do something different. Pursue it to the fullest of levels. Make a name, in another way.

What happened to a promising Campus Media?

On joining the echelons of the so-called higher education in 2006, I was really fired up to join Campus media. I had a graph drawn of the possible paths I would explore in order to make an impact on the same. Looking back now, after reaching the peak I so desired, I can comfortably offer some insights on what I’ve discovered about the campus media. More so, the continued silence that has rocked the campus media scene – with few sounds made here and there by fired up student journalist intent on reviving.

See, in the 1990s, campus media was very nascent, promising and was creating ripples even beyond the campus walls. Case study in particular is University of Nairobi- where student politics and activism was at its peak. From the 70’s (before and after) UoN and Kenyatta University has produced a generous crop of politicians who cut their teeth on the student politics arena. Hon. James Orengo, Kabando wa Kabando, Former Machakos Town Member of Parliament Jonesmus Kikuyu and many others not accommodated in this list who have made a mark in the politics arena in Kenya and beyond. As a result of the power that pulsated from the student governments, there was need to create a fourth estate which sought to cover the proceedings. This led to the rise of such student publications as The Anvil in the Nairobi University. I cannot ignore the host of so-called gutter press publications which, in their spirited dispensation of ‘filth’, made a significant impact on the campus scene.

The (gutter) publications which were published overnight, pinned on noticed boards led to the rise of the so-called ‘Media Moguls’. Their trades was at the pick during student elections. Candidates would ‘buy’ out a publication to smear dirt on opponents and sometimes,  burn ones dreams ambitious with fatuous blows. Or how would you bounce abck when every one on campus has heard of your attempt to rape some hostel cleaner? Such was the extent of slander.

The 90s was the peak of such, as the publications even highlight matters even on the national scale. Of course, this would revolve around politics, and this being the Moi Era (or Error) it did not auger well with the administration as well as Moi moles that were omnipresent on campus in those days. They received threats, and some threats did come true. Others lived through the times and emerged as journalists of repute on the mainstream media.

Come the millenium, and it bug hit. This was the time when the country was gearing up for a change in the political landscape.  No longer were there die-hard activists, opposed to the government of the day like in the 90s. Either they had been silenced and their seeds smashed for good, or the fruits of their labour was ripening. On the campus scene, babies born in the early 80s were making their way into campus and there are a few notable examples who took after the  fire-eating student politicians bred in Moi’s Era.  But what about campus media?

Well, the concept of campus magazine picked up at around this time. Thus came the up magazines such as The Campuserian  – a magazine that aimed at consolidating the campus life of all universities in Kenya. It was made up articles from campuses as Moi University, UoN, K.U., Daystar University. J.K.U.A.T. etc and the like.

I’ll focus on how the campus media has grown after the entrance of campus magazines in the next post.

Share your views.

Moan Day Meetings

I dislike meetings man.

But what can i do about it when it is I who called for them- actually emphasized on their necessity and stamped it into law? Oh, i hate the boss, that sits up there and swings like he owns the world, the whole of that paper.

Today, i strolled in expecting to see him up there pushing unwilling reporters.  Instead, they were all waiting for him and his arrival changed the course of the talk.

First, he seemed to know everything that was going on, but it all appeared sketchy in the eyes of the sub-ordinates (or so he thought). But nobody would question that, as he had the final answer.  But come to think of it; these crazy heads, fear to question? No. He must have given satisfactory answers. Furthermore, most of the reporters had not really keyed in their stories and the editors knew well, we were lagging behind.

Boss, from the obscurity of his appearance, small voice coupled with inarticulacy began to talk – blabbered on about the necessary progress, coz there is nothing more he can do other than stipulate what should be done, outline and probably push about the editors on the progress…

Hmm…seems i am defending this position of immobility and my latest stagnations – but well,  the progress is nothing short of the snail pace but it speeds up once the reporters are fired up (put in threats, guilt conscience, inspiration talk – tea kitty, he he) 

Today was a Monday, and a day like this had arrived- unexpected, caught me unwares and i rushed to class, pants down.

As such, i had to pull my sleeves up again and thus: was so stoned and high.  I breezed through it all blissfully, altogether.

Never Mind i’mma spend this entire night getting bitten by mosquitoes as i clear the backlog of other people’s inadequancies – ok, i admit, i am not the best teacher, but if you show passion well enough, we may flow along.

End of meeting-

And i went to the comp labs, assumed my favorite position on the Computer, started typing  whatever came first to my head.

Pointless!

The ‘gods’ must be crazy

Sometimes i look where i  be and what i have been through…and i nod my head like i got dandruffs.

i am used to treading on delicate grounds, full of fear, anticipation, anxiety…and the sweaty palms. Desperate last minute rushes are what i have been become enslaved to.

I am living life taking risks like i don’t care about anything anymore.

Interesting enough, after the dust settles, i still find myself calm and things have not fallen apart as they would have it.

But probably, they WILL fall apart. I strangely look forward to that.

Heading a team of scribes now, and how they look up to me, i think the ‘gods’ must be crazy to make me a leader…knowing how i am.

May be i am an ambitious pretender, maybe i make things happen with my ever burning freshness…but soon enough, my lackadaisical sides kicks in and everything comes tumbling down like a faulty domino.

I would want my life back…but what life?

This is my life.

I have realized without the achievements i hold dear, i am basically nothing. People identify me with those and as such, forget the flailing soul, escaping in the mist of his burning personality.

But really, this is what i want to do in life. I want to live journalism, eat design and sleep with reporters, screw editors lol…but the package never really comes full, Ever.

But i have to hold on to this…its my living hope of never having to think otherwise about my life, my past, all those things that drive me towards ripping out rare fetes.

Its the least i could do for me, my future.

The Most Annoying Person on Kenyan T.V.

We frequently hear from him and its clear what side he represents – more so , the bad name he gives to the Kenyan PR Industry…why, does he, oh why, does he have to make a fool of this government and himself by telling us things that even the dumbest of us all can see through?

Ati what Doctorate does he hold??

See, P.R. (Public Relations)  is not new in Kenya but it has taken blood sweat and many hours of dedication ny Practioners to reach where it is today. But it take someone high ranking as this to smear B.Crap on these efforts. But luckily, the private sector is making it on its own, w/out appearing to be the ‘liars’  (plainly put) that underly this proffession.

Well, Dr. Alfred Mutua, is the first government [propaganda] spokesman Kenya has ever had and has variously confirmed that…why do journalists still flock his office to hear the same old recycled lies? Arguments that make least sense…and really ashaming us in front of the Mijinjo speaking UG Spokesman with his contradictions?

How about this naming of streets. Wait, is it naming of streets or numbering them using 85 gsm Printing papers????????

How the hell is that suppossed to revolationized the way buildings can be identified? I mean, its a good idea, but, how broke is the government that i can’t afford sleek metal plates to do this excercise in the way 10 Downing Street is named and we are good to go?!

Oh, i am very proud to be Kenyan! (Mad props to the Know our country- thuoght their graphcs should improve!)

Very!

Blunt Kenya, ah, Brand Kenya…ahem… i understand that the later may or may not be his inititative but rather a brain child of Top Busy-ness people trying to package Kenya into a parcel…but shouldn’t this be Mutua’s task?

I have nothing personal against the man, in fact, at his, i admire his achievements, but he so looks that the boots he is filling are so not his! For a doctor, that is much bull crap to handle in that you stand there brain washed and read Xeroxed down speeches that are an insult even to his own intelligence!!!

I don’t mean that he should be radical…or anything…but, ADD SOME LIFE TO IT! Do it in style, like the Kyuks say: ta modo muthomi (like a Thome-d PERSON!). You think it’s impossible?

Remember when Iraq (read Sadam) was falling down to American troops huko kedo Two-Oh-Three? If you were a little bit kin, you may have noticed the famed Sadam Spokesperson, Can’t-R’call-His-Name…who even with tanks storming the building where he had the press conference, the man was still shouting pro-Sadam Slogans and how the Iraqi army was winning! The man was so (ridiculously) entertaining that even George Walked in a Bush himself admitted to be a FAN of the spokesperson! UK Sky News network even sent him a contract that soon after the regime had bite-d  the dust, he had a permanent job on the offing- he obviously rejected it and soon as Sadam fell, little has been heard of him.

In short, it is not a prerogative that to be a spokesperson, you have to be boring…just be, ah, [ridiculously] entertaining—

come back kid!

It’s been a while since i dusted the cobwebs off this space, but haikuwa kwa ubaya. There are enough and credible reasons as to why i had been MIA.

But i am back again!

I hope to harness enough loose minutes and come out blazing as i had originally intended.

Later

-thepenjugglist

Standard ‘flip over’ style a stale stunt

Mr. Lampat was my High School Technical Drawing and Design (TD&D) instructor. And that is not all about him. Besides being a self-proclaimed bachelor for life, Mr. Lampat had certain queer behavior that translated to daily entertainment for students – to the point he was branded ‘chizi‘.

Being open-minded, i usually brushed aside this claims as we interacted in class severally and thought him as a creative jamaa…with just a different take in life. However, this never held ground or water for long…until one day, in the student’s dining hall, i, and the hundred of other students, spotted him reading a Nation newspaper up-side DOWN.

Now at this point, the last straw that i held to justify normal function of the man’s sanity…ah, yeah.

When the bald bold new Standard hit the streets some time last year, this some what reminded me of Mr. Lampat. I thought of it as well timed plan to tickle sales through some ‘crazy fancy’…but several months on, it has stuck on like a bad habit.

It may have made a complete makeover for that tabloidical look but this is mostly irritating than exciting now. Flip over flip over..arghh… i doubt we all have acrobatic dreams to be gymnastic experts?

*** that picture is of a badly spelt ‘apartment’ on Standard.

the death photographer

as the red light bleeded over everything and nothing in the dark room, his fingerprints made fresh imprints on the freshly printed photo.

Retracing it’s steps in the graph of time, the line of memory rose and fell like mercury up a therm, and slowly found its footing through the screams and spurts of blood.

the cold eye pierced the view finder and began ravishing on the mess and the beauty with long black hair thrown in (beautiful) disarray before resting on those lifeless talon nails slightly scratching her naked thighs, like a vulture stopped dead in time.

As laser light beams, his vision rose up again scanning the crossed legs deliberately positioned to partially reveal the gradual rising of her dark triangle -on cue, his dark heart lighted with heavy desire beating in his rib cage, like tums tums drums from West Africa.

He was now chocking with intakes of short hot breathes laced with the sound of her last sigh.

The ecstasy soon subsided and with tip of his index finger, he wound up the tale for sale : click, click, click, click.

Nation e-paper a thriller!

OK, almost.

The move by  Nation  Media house to have the paper appear as it is on print is a first in Kenya and it only re-assures the position of the media house in East Africa: second to none.

Sure, we should give credit where it’s due and after navigating throught the pages on its website, i had no reason at all to part with 35 bob, ever again…at least for the time being. What’s more, the website has it’s  FIVE main papers on the web-as-it-appears-on-print;  Daily Metro, East African, Business Daily, Taifa Leo and Daily Nation (main).

This is phenomenal in that, like your boss, you can have an array of all the papers for free…at least, till Feb 15.

The concept behind this move is not as complicated..and in ‘English’…the print paper has just been uploaded as it is, without excluding any stuff -adverts and all – unlike the online paper which runs selected stories.

You can print it out, email, diggit facebook, and all that…

Currently, it is running on Beta, meaning it’s a ‘test run’ till Feb 15.

From then, you have to pay, and read your choice as it is, from anywhere in the world.

This, i must say, is a big step in the development of new media considering this is the year Fibre Optic internet will make it’s debut (hopefully)…meaning the traditional media will not be left behind as Kenyans embrace fast internet and the packages that come with it.

It is also a first for advertisers (i am not sure if the cost of advertising has increased yet, but most probably, there must be changes in the revenue) as i have just discovered- you right click on the advert and you can directly email the advertiser.

That’s the short of it and hopefully, as the fire catches up, a more in-depth review will be up for your viewership pleasure.

Meanwhile, check out the ultimate newspaper on the web experience, before time expires.

-thekenyanewshound.