Thursday, 09 August 2007 Recently, I received an SMS with advice for a fellow journalist. In it was the simple advice, "go to hell". Many Kenyans it seems bear similar sentiments towards journalists.
I was offended because I expected more from my SMSing friend, a lawyer I had grown to respect. I had thought he had better sense than to throw mud on everyone he happened to disagree with. He in turn complained of bad faith and malice, as demonstrated by a cartoon in the newspaper he was angry about. But the core of his complaint was what he described as chronic corruption within journalism. He said that the very journalists, who write or publish the most strident criticisms with the one hand, are very busy reaching out with the other, for handouts.

There's an old saying, one that has been told over and over for generations. Even the meanest of characters, he who cannot afford to buy anybody a drink, will find a cause to shout himself hoarse when speaking about corrupt journalists. I am not overly impartial in this being a practising journalist myself, but my opinion has always been- it takes two to be corrupt. Can anyone who gives money or other favors to journalists claim to be righteous?

The main question: do the journalists hold a gun to anyone demanding money? This question was underscored by the Members of Parliament who claimed the only reason for passing the Media Bill is because the journalists are corrupt and subsist on hand outs.

They argue that it is fair to pass the controversial media bill that will force journalists to reveal sources," because journalists are corrupt". It was even said that journalists are always seen walking to Parliament. How right! The question of corruption is controversial, as the press is often the last frontier between the public and their increasingly wayward leaders. It is the Fourth Estate that unleashes the news on scandals that brings down reputations and ends the careers of irresponsible leaders.

One does understand that there are often grounds for disagreeing with journalists, or the portrayal of oneself in the media. It is for that reason that our already extant laws are in place, and politicians, much like anyone else will appreciate that they can get redress from the courts, or even by complaining directly to the media houses, demanding their right of reply, corrections or even retractions and apologies. We needn't make enemies of the press; they are often our greatest guardians.