Media coverage of Accident at Ntulele-Narok

P.O. Box 43132 – 00100, Nairobi. TEL +254 20 2737058. EMAIL: info@mediacouncil.or.ke

MEDIA COVERAGE OF ROAD ACCIDENT AT NTULELE ON 29/08/2013

1. Background

Road carnage in Kenya is fast becoming a leading cause of loss of life in Kenya. The Police department estimates that 1,300 people have died as a result of road accidents in the country since the beginning of the year. Three thousand people are killed annually.

The Press has been covering accidents stories as a matter of public concern and

duty. In addition to the stories, newspapers have been accompanying the stories

with photos of victims, survivors and kin.

The Media Council of Kenya has noted some breaches of the Code of Conduct for the

Practice of Journalism in Kenya in coverage of accidents. These include articles 9 and

14 in the Code, which requires journalists to mind the photos of victims of accidents

they publish with reference to taste and intrusion into grief and shock respectively.

2. Adherence to the Code of Conduct for Practice of Journalism in Kenya relating to

Accident Reporting

a. Violation of article 9(b) of the Code

The Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism stipulates that the publication of photographs showing mutilated bodies, bloody incidents and abhorrent scenes be avoided unless the publication of broadcast of such

photographs will serve the public interest.

From a look at the press and the photos used, it is evident that some of the pictures were published in disregard of the plight of the victims.

b. Violation of article 14(a) of the Code One element of professional journalism demands that we tell the untold

stories to facilitate positive change in society. However, the Code of Conduct

for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya under article 14(a) talks of Intrusion

into grief and shock. The article states that in cases involving grief and shock

inquiries should be made with sensitivity and discretion.

Media coverage of Accident at Ntulele-Narok

3. Conclusion and Recommendation There were some violations of the Code during the media coverage of this accident at Ntulele in Narok and other accidents. Though some of them can be easily passed as minor or not very gross in terms of violations, we cannot definitely rule out the impact of such photos on some section of the audience. In as much as the accident was a matter of public interest, the reporters and editors involved should have balanced and weighed all pros and cons of publishing such photos with reference to the Code. Recommendations

Journalists should adhere to the article that governs intrusion into grief and shock and taste and tone of reporting in relation to the photos they publish.

Journalists need to be reminded on how to cover accidents and other situations that involve raw footage that may be disturbing to the general public.