Kenya: Discussing the Kenya Communications Amendment Act

KENYA COMMUNICATIONS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2008
Media Law, Propaganda and Public Opinion

Date: March 9, 2009
Venue: Pan Africa Hotel, Nairobi
Host: Department of Communication, Daystar University

CALL FOR PAPERS

This symposium will bring together students of media, journalism academics, communication professionals, civil society groups among others to discuss the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008 and Kenyan media reportage of it.

Kenya's location plus its media that by default is structured along the Western Commercial model bequeathed the nation one of the liveliest media in this part of the world. Yet over the years, and particularly as the country has moved further from independence, relations between media and the state have been, at times, frosty. Some have argued that Kenyan media grew in an environment without much regulation, but marked with suspicion of government intent at every turn. Others have pointed out that African governments, steeped in corrupt ways, do not suffer critical media gladly and lose no opportunity to clamp on free expression

The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2008 was passed in parliament in December 2008, assented to by the President on December 30, 2008 and became law on January 2, 2009. Following the passing of the bill in parliament, the media covered the subject extensively. We invite papers that will look at the Act, both from the point of view of law and of journalism practice and education. Speakers could focus on the history and implication of media law in Kenya, program coding, cross media ownership, freedom of expression, right of reply, broadcast regulation, ICT and the media, ethics, priming and framing etc. We also encourage papers that review media coverage of the issues around the bill and later the Act.

We encourage scholars, researchers, journalists, lawyers and civil society groups from different disciplinary backgrounds to participate in this symposium. Abstracts of no more than 250 words should be submitted by January 30, 2009. Papers should reflect any of the above themes but even if not, should focus on the Act and the events around it. Deadline for full papers is March 2, 2009.

Please send all submissions and enquiries to Dr. Levi Obonyo (Symposium Coordinator) on: Email: [email][email protected]: Tel 0750 908 005