Truth and the media

Paper presented at Strathmore University 4th Ethics Conference on “Media and the Common Good” 3rd– 4th November 2006In Kenya recently, tensions, especially between government and the media, have been reflected in events such as the raiding of The Standard Group offices a few months ago -on 1st March 2006, and the resistance of the President’s security detail to permitting journalists to take photos of the President during the recent youth Forum held in Nairobi in September 2006. Events such as these have given rise to the on-going debate in local media regarding the right to freedom of expression or freedom of press as it is also known and the possible self-regulation of media by journaliststhemselves through a code of Ethics.In this context, I would like to makesome reflections on the art of media communication as related to seeking the truth.In Kenya recently, tensions, especially between government and the media, have been reflected in events such as the raiding of The Standard Group offices a few months ago -on 1st March 2006, and the resistance of the President’s security detail to permitting journalists to take photos of the President during the recent youth Forum held in Nairobi in September 2006. Events such as these have given rise to the on-going debate in local media regarding the right to freedom of expression or freedom of press as it is also known and the possible self-regulation of media by journaliststhemselves through a code of Ethics.In this context, I would like to makesome reflections on the art of media communication as related to seeking the truth