Twenty years after the Windhoek Declaration on press freedom
Twenty years after the Windhoek Declaration on press freedom
Twenty years after the Windhoek Declaration on press freedom
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At <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a tendency<br />
by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state to m<strong>on</strong>opolise airwaves<br />
because of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> perceived strength<br />
of radio and TV, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir attendant<br />
‘threat’ to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> status quo. Moi’s<br />
government saw broadcast media<br />
as a preserve of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> state and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ruling elite. For a l<strong>on</strong>g time,<br />
‘independent’ radio and TV stati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
were <strong>on</strong>ly allowed to broadcast in<br />
urban areas. Even where limited<br />
private ownership was allowed,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was covert c<strong>on</strong>trol through<br />
<strong>press</strong>ure <strong>on</strong> owners, editors and<br />
even advertisers. This stunted media<br />
growth and frustrated investors.<br />
“All state-owned<br />
media shall: ‘afford<br />
fair opportunity for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> presentati<strong>on</strong> of<br />
divergent views and<br />
dissenting opini<strong>on</strong>s’.”<br />
Once Moi was out of power in 2002,<br />
private media took off. Kenya is<br />
now home to 120 radio stati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
most of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m FM. Most are based<br />
outside of urban areas and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
broadcast in local languages. 150<br />
investors are still awaiting licences.<br />
The country has also seen <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rise of<br />
televisi<strong>on</strong> stati<strong>on</strong>s with a nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
reach. ‘Independent’ TV stati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
like Kenya Televisi<strong>on</strong> Network,<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong> TV, Citizen TV and K24 have<br />
emerged. More than 60 investors<br />
are awaiting licences and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
government promises to issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se,<br />
and many more, <strong>on</strong>ce <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> migrati<strong>on</strong><br />
from analogue is completed in 2012<br />
(<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are indicati<strong>on</strong>s, however, that<br />
this deadline will not be met due to<br />
budgetary and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r c<strong>on</strong>straints).<br />
Mobile teleph<strong>on</strong>y penetrati<strong>on</strong> now<br />
stands at 60 percent according to<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> latest Communicati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong><br />
of Kenya statistics. The cost of<br />
handsets and calling rates are dropping.<br />
Internet penetrati<strong>on</strong> is growing.<br />
Mobile televisi<strong>on</strong> via mobile teleph<strong>on</strong>y<br />
is a reality. Mobile internet<br />
is readily available. News is available<br />
<strong>on</strong> mobile ph<strong>on</strong>es as news media<br />
struggle to attract more audiences.<br />
The media scene is looking up; it has<br />
never been better for media organisati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
This growth in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media sector is<br />
not, however, without challenges. It<br />
has meant a reducti<strong>on</strong> in audience<br />
and advertisement share. This means<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> struggle for survival is intense.<br />
Although this should have raised<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> quality of media and journalism,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are c<strong>on</strong>cerns that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> media<br />
are c<strong>on</strong>tinually dumbing down and<br />
sensati<strong>on</strong>alising issues to survive.<br />
Media c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> is growing as<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s like The Nati<strong>on</strong> Media<br />
Group, Standard, Royal Media and<br />
Radio Africa groups dominate <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
market and use <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir enormous<br />
resources to stifle competiti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
plurality and c<strong>on</strong>tent diversity.<br />
Despite <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se c<strong>on</strong>cerns, however,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> advantages outweigh <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
disadvantages, thus far.<br />
Secti<strong>on</strong> 2: Pluralism<br />
Media in Africa - 2011 | 83