adminNAIROBI. — The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has asked the government and media owners to resolve the digital migration standoff to avert possible loss of jobs for those working in the media industry.
Union leaders, led by secretary-general Erick Oduor, chairman Oscar Obonyo and organising secretary John Atambo called upon relevant stakeholders in the matter to meet and agree on the way forward “to enable our journalists to resume duty”.
While appreciating the migration, the leaders said the process had come with challenges in other countries and asked the government to accord the players a smooth transition.
“While we appreciate the importance of digital migration, we call upon the government to listen to the cries of journalists who have been caught up in the cross fire,” said Mr Oduor when he addressed reporters in Nairobi yesterday.
“Both South Africa and Nigeria are still grappling with digital migration because of (the) complexity of their markets,” said the KUJ secretary-general, adding that the jobs of more than 200 workers in the media sector were now at stake.
“This puts some jobs on the line because no employer would keep employees who have no work to do,” he added.
“The Kenyan media has grown over the past two decades and we should not lose these gains.
“In Africa, Kenya, alongside South Africa and Nigeria, has witnessed the growth of media following enormous investments that have been put in,” said Mr Oduor.
The Kenyan government was locked in an escalated dispute with broadcasters as authorities threatened to punish the TV stations for resisting attempts to put their programmes on a Chinese-owned digital carrier.
NTV, KTN, Citizen TV and QTV went off air on Saturday after the Communications Authority of Kenya raided their transmitters in Limuru and switched off their analogue equipment.
On Sunday, Information, Communication and Technology Secretary Fred Matiang’i threatened unspecified action against the media owners for ceasing broadcasting.
Africa Digital Networks Ltd, a consortium formed by the three firms, responded by saying that it was the government which had switched off the signal and the consortium does not as yet have the equipment in place for digital broadcasting.
The three leading private media companies, including the Nation Media Group, which owns the Daily Nation, NTV and QTV, have been involved in a bitter contest with the Government over the distribution of digital signals.
On its part, the government appears determined to make sure that the big media put their content on a Chinese-owned digital platform, among other conditions.
With equal determination, the broadcasters appear to have decided to avoid that outcome at all costs.
As a result, the government’s regulatory credibility as a disinterested arbiter is now in tatters and the big media risk losing hundreds of millions in advertising revenue, not to mention the danger posed to hundreds of media and creative jobs.
Kenya has one of the most independent, professional and profitable media companies on the continent, which has attracted the interest of international entities, such as those from China. — Daily Nation.
Online Reporter