A clash between journalistic and capitalist values? How advertisers meddle in journalists’ decisions at the Nation Media Group in Kenya

Abstract

This article seeks to examine how advertisers meddle in journalists' ethical decisions at the Nation Media Group (NMG) inKenya. Grounded in the critical political economy of the media tradition, it is argued in the article that, in the highly commercialized media environment in Kenya today, market forces pose the greatest threat to media freedom and responsibility. Through in-depth qualitative interviews of twenty journalists from the NMG, the article shows how the expectation of private media to be purveyors of public interest while trying to maximize profits for shareholders leads to a clash of journalistic and capitalist values. The article answers the following questions: how do advertisers meddle in journalists' ethical decisions at the Nation Media? How do journalists respond to advertisers' influence? How does their response compromise their professional ethics? The findings show that there is a clash of journalistic values and capitalist values as journalists strive to meet shareholders' expectations and maximize profits for owners.

What African media? Rethinking research on Africa’s press

“…The disparity in coverage can be attributed to the resources at the disposal of NMG as compared to SG. In 2011, NMG was ranked the ‘biggest media firm in Africa outside South Africa, with a market value of $324 million and a 52.54 per cent dollar return’ (Maweu, 2014: 28). In the same year, The Daily Nation boasted a total weekly readership of 5.5 million readers compared to 3.3 million for The Standard (Nyabuga and Booker, 2013).…”

Journalists’ level of knowledge on empirical research and opinion polling: A study of Kenyan journalists

“…According to Maweu (2014), the forces of media liberalization have affected the Kenyan media both positively and negatively. While leading Kenyan media houses such as the Nation Media Group, the Standard Group, and the Royal Media Services have expanded their businesses by launching additional newspapers, radio and television stations under their respective brands, the conglomerates are using their vast resources to control the media environment, minimize competition, reduce costs, and attract advertisers (Maweu, 2014;Mbeke, 2010).…”

“…Although the reformist Kibaki government was proactive in developing pro-media laws and policies, it remained ambivalent toward the media. However, the Kibaki government created the Office of Public Communication in 2004 which is in charge of briefing the media on critical national issues, created the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) to set media standards and provide a mechanism for self-regulation, and oversaw the enactment of a new 2010 constitution in which media freedom is protected under sections 33, 34, and 35. According to Maweu (2014), the forces of media liberalization have affected the Kenyan media both positively and negatively. While leading Kenyan media houses such as the Nation Media Group, the Standard Group, and the Royal Media Services have expanded their businesses by launching additional newspapers, radio and television stations under their respective brands, the conglomerates are using their vast resources to control the media environment, minimize competition, reduce costs, and attract advertisers (Maweu, 2014;Mbeke, 2010).…”

“…In a study with journalists at the Nation Media Group in Kenya, Wasserman and Mwende Maweu (2014) found that 'media managers, journalists, and shareholders have political ideologies and affiliations largely influenced by their different ethnic identities' (p. 175). Ireri (2017) concludes that 'ethnic-biased coverage of the election campaigns is one of the factors that triggered the 2007 postelection violence .…”

Commodification in mass media’s educative function in Kenya: How now shall we think?

“…Royal Media Services also operate 17 radio and television stations across the country according to the Communication Commission of Kenya (2018). Although there is nothing wrong in building media business empire, critics have often raised questions in regard to the concentration of media outlets particularly those owned by politically influential individuals as well as those with multibillion business interests (Maweu, 2014).…”