With the practice of investigative journalism, one can ask these questions. Why then is it important for journalists to involve themselves in investigative reporting? Are their reasons justifiable? These questions can all be answered with a ‘yes’. This is because the media is a powerful influence in the society. It is this great influence that forces the media to use it for good in the society and not for bad, as the media’s significance to the society also calls for responsibility. This then nearly mandates practitioners in the media field to do all they can, while maintaining high ethical standards to report the truth to the society. In order to do this in the accurate journalists should:

a) Be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
b) Inform themselves so that they can competently inform the public.
c) Give voice to the voiceless.
d) Hold the powerful accountable.
THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS
Journalists uncover the truth in investigative reporting using three major sources. They are:
a) The paper trail.
b) The human trail.
c) The electronic trail.
The first, paper trail, involves the use of documents. Next is the human trail which involves conducting interviews and observations with real persons. The final one is electronic trail which involves the use of documents or information available form electronic sources such as the internet. However, it is not enough that a journalist only applies these sources of information. The manner in which he conducts the investigation and interacts with these sources is also important. Therefore ethical considerations become most important in:
a) Relationship with sources.
b) Accepting favors and/or money.
c) Moonlighting.
d) Privacy issues.
DECEPTION IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Deception is an issue of concern in investigative journalism. Deception often occurs when a journalist uses deceptive methods in his investigation such as:
a) Misrepresentation (the use of a false identity to access places or information).
b) The use of hidden cameras or recorders.
c) Entrapment.
d) Undercover reporting.
However there are cases when deception is justified in investigative reporting. Situations such as these may be when:
a) The information obtained is of profound importance and other ways of getting it have been tried.
b) The journalist is willing to disclose the nature of the deception and the reasons for it.
c) The harm prevented by reporting that information outweighs any harm caused by the deception.
d) The journalist has invested time, effort, and resources to pursue the story fully. This means that the deception is not a shortcut.
Even with the possibility of justifiable deception, it is important to state clearly when it is not an acceptable option. Cases such as those include when:

a) The motivation is to win a prize or beat (‘outscoop’) the competition.
b) It is used as a short-cut to what should be a deliberate and thorough process.
c) The journalist’s justification is that the subject is unethical anyway.
Deception, even with the above guidelines, is still an ethical choice to be made. In making that choice the journalist must consider the following:
a) The consequences of the deception on those being deceived.
b) The impact on journalistic credibility.
c) The motivations for your actions.
d) The editorial policy or mission.
e) The legal implications that the deception may or may not result in.
ANONYMOUS SOURCES IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
Anonymous sources often provide particularly newsworthy information such as classified or confidential information about current events, information about a previously unreported scandal, or the opinion of a particular group that fears retribution for expressing certain opinions to the press. However, anonymous sources may make it difficult to for the reporter to verify the source’s statements.
Sometimes sources hide their identities from the public because their statements would be discarded. Therefore, statements attributed to anonymous sources may carry more weight with the public that they might be if attributed. When faced with having to work with anonymous sources, it is important that the journalist asks these questions in order to determine the necessity and appropriateness of including an anonymous source:
a) Is the story important enough?
b) Does the source know the information first hand?
c) Is the information confirmed by a reliable second or third source?
d) Can I explain in the story the reason for the anonymity?
e) Would more reporting get the material on the record?
f) If the anonymous source is used, will the story still be accurate, complete, fair and balanced?
g) Does the source realize the consequences of revealing the information?
h) Will the reporter take all the risks to protect the source’s identity?
i) Can the story stand without this source?
ETHICAL ISSUES
Yellow journalism is often the result of the media blowing news out of proportion. It is a scenario that may occur in investigative journalism when the media wishes to ‘sensationalize’ news. Yellow journalism downplays legitimate news in favor of eye catching headlines that sell more newspapers. It may feature exaggerations of news events, scandal mongering, sensationalism or unprofessional practices by news media organizations or journalists. Campbell (2001) defines Yellow Press newspapers as having daily multi-column front page headlines covering a variety of topics such as sports and scandal, using bold layouts with large illustrations, having a huge reliance of anonymous sources and displaying elements of self-promotion.
Another area of ethical concern in investigative journalism arises when the journalist suffers from a conflict of interest. This occurs when the journalist ceases to play the role of the observer and becomes involved with parties within the story or finds that the characters within the story have a certain relationship with him or her. Sources of journalists’ conflict of interest include:
a) Involvement in particular activities sensitive to the story being covered.
b) Affiliation with groups or causes within the story of interest.
c) Acceptance of favors and money from parties involved in the story.
d) Financial investments related to the story.
e) Friendships with parties in the story.
There is also the ethical issue that arises with news coverage in relation to terrorists. Terrorism and terrorists has taken much of media coverage now and in much of the past few years. The level of importance and relevance that terrorism holds to the world, has lead to a deep probing of the media into the more intricate concerns of this issue. None the less, there maybe questions that arise from the kind of coverage that terrorism stories have received. Has further interest of the media concerning terrorism via investigative journalism helped terrorists to promote their causes via the media? Did the publicity received by terrorists and other criminals encourage people to follow their example? On the part of the media, has the media exploited dramatic instances of terrorism to boost broadcast ratings and newspaper circulation? How far is too far when it comes to intrusion of privacy?

APPLICATION OF THE POTTER’S BOX

Define –Though investigative reporting is helpful, it should be regulated and should not go against the law.
Values- Honesty and transparency.
Principles- It is wrong to investigate anyone or an organization without consent in which case investigative reporting cannot be justified.
Loyalties- The society and individuals.

ETHICAL THEORIES
1) Golden mean theory- States that we must always avoid extremes in this case of investigating journalism. The reporter should try as hard as possible to avoid extremes. An example of this case is KTNs investigative reporting segments on the Track It security system for cars the two journalists John Allan Nyamu and Mohammad Ali. They were faced with extremes two, one being to take a bribe and hide the story and the other to refuse the bribe and air the report. The middle point they took was, to take the bribe and air the story however this could have been avoided if there was transparency in their operations .Hence their actions were unethical.
2) Categorical imperative- This theory states that there is always right and wrong. Therefore there is no shortcut unless transparency prevails in investigative journalism. If transparency is not adhered to then the investigation is wrong and can be seen an intrusion of privacy which is illegal.
3) Utilitarianism- Teaches the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Going by this theory, investigative journalism can be justified as being aimed at creating good for the greatest number. For example the Track It incident enlightened most Kenyans who had installed their cars with the devices, allowing them to find out that it was not safe. By creating awareness to the general public on what was happening behind the scenes, the greatest number of people will benefit by looking for other security options.
4) The veil of ignorance-The main idea in this theory is that fairness is fundamental to justice and the emphasis is what morally appropriate action should be taken and not that which benefits many people. Before reporting anything as investigative journalists, we have a moral obligation to adhere to as every human being has and this should not be compromised for the good of other people. In the Track It case incident reporting was for the good of the public but morally it was not right to record the whole incident without consent from Shehzad Tejani the Track It General Manager thus, the whole report was unethical going by this theory
5) Judeo Christian– This theory states that, on should do unto others as you would that they do to you. The question here would be, would you want someone to come with hidden cameras and wire recorders to record your transactions without your consent, whether they be legal or illegal? The two reporters John Allan Namu and Mohammed Ali crossed the line by taking hidden cameras and tapes to Shehzad Tejanis office because by this theory, they would not have appreciated intrusion of their privacy.
6) Virtue ethics- This theory states that one should do what good people do.
Good people do not investigate or document other peoples affairs for public documentation hence according to this theory investigative reporting is unethical.
RECOMENDATIONS
First, it is important that journalists present the truth; this should be their primary goal. In order to do this, it is vital that certain steps and decisions are made to allow the journalist to be unbiased as possible as he or she reports. This call to truthfulness and objectivity in news reporting requires that the journalist himself or herself, takes a moral stand that would allow him or her to criticize and point out issues of concern within the society. Therefore, the investigative reporter, in order to achieve this should:

a) Be free of obligation to any interests other than the public’s right to know.
b) Be resistant to pressure from sources.
c) Not accept bribes or other incentives.

Secondly, it should be the deliberate endeavor of the investigative journalist to ensure that the least harm is done while covering a story. Stories covered are most often about real people living real lives. Therefore it is important that the journalist exhibits compassion while covering the story. The following should be taken into consideration; the journalist should:

a) Portray subjects as human beings deserving respect, and not as a means to journalistic ends.
b) Keep sources confidential if that is what they demand.
c) Not endanger sources.
d) Respect an individual’s right to her or his privacy.
Finally, as with any professional field, accountability must be embraced as a value and standard of news gathering and reporting. Investigative journalism is a news approach that has the possibility to turn into a mine field if not dealt with carefulness. Therefore, to avoid carelessness where lives and reputations are at stake, accountability must be a prime factor in reporting. This would mean that as a journalist one should:
a) Abide by the same high standards to which one holds to others.
b) Clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialog with the public over journalistic conduct.
c) Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
d) Expose unethical practices of journalists and the news media.

CONCLUSION
It cannot be said that investigative reporting is not an important and well meaning part of journalism. It has informed the public of situations and cases that are relevant to the masses and has shown a light in evils in the society. However it is important that its practice be sensitive and ethical. Intrusion of privacy and deception should be keenly considered, and the media should avoid making the news sensational. It is the responsibility of journalists to correctly represent the information got from investigations. It is a heavy burden that journalists carry, but its fruits are worth the trouble

Advertising Strategies
When marketing a product, advertisers will use several methods to get you interested and ultimately, to get you to purchase. Here are a just few of the more popular ones:
• Celebrity endorsements – using well known people to promote their product
• Product comparison – showing how their product is superior to another
• Price comparison – showing how their product is a better deal than another
• Selling a dream or lifestyle – showing how their product will make your dreams come true
• Selling with sex – showing how their product will make you popular with the opposite sex
• Selling sentiment – connecting their product to cherished emotions
Obviously, some strategies have the ability to be more subjective than others. For example, when using the strategy of “selling a lifestyle”, many businesses will work hard to create a brand image. That image may be associated with status, lifestyle, or success. When selling a product with that brand, advertisers will then focus on selling that image. It may not necessarily have anything to do with the real value or quality of the product itself. The customer is simply buying the name and the concepts that go along with it. However, owning that product will likely not truly change the reality of the consumer’s status. Is it therefore ethical to sell the image instead of the product? Is it truthful?
Tobacco advertising

The space in which tobacco can be promoted in any form is growing more restricted every day. And tobacco isn’t the only legal – and potentially lethal – product that poses ethical, not to mention public policy questions for us.
Ad agencies and individual advertising people make their own decisions about categories like tobacco and guns. Many say, “No, thanks” to working on certain businesses. But would you turn down the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese assignment because another division of the same corporation makes Marlboros? That’s a tougher question.
Alcohol
The ethical issue isn’t the alcohol in the product, it’s the brand name on the bottle (Smirnoff Ice). When I say the word “Smirnoff”, what do you think of? – you’re not alone. A rival company says this commercial is misleading you because there’s no vodka in Smirnoff Ice. It’s a malt beverage. Does the name “Smirnoff” mean “vodka” or is it just a name? Many of you are in the target audience. Are you being fooled here? And if you thought Smirnoff Ice contained vodka, did you also think it contained ice? You don’t have to take time from your studies to decide this case. As we speak, it’s being examined by the ATF (Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).
Condoms

I assume these are not unfamiliar to you. Should they be advertised? Most networks won’t accept condom ads because they might offend certain audiences. Even where condom ads are okay, there are ethical choices to make about what kind of product demonstration is appropriate. And in what context? One example of context is that people in condom ads usually wear wedding rings. Because even though the biggest market probably lies outside the Marital Bed, the truth about where all those condoms are really going raises some touchy issues. If you were the Creative Director on the Trojans account, is that an ethical issue? Do you show the real truth and take the consequences?
Children
Society imposes context on advertising ethics all the time – especially in advertising that involves children. There is no adult supervision in most of the adverts. The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which also monitors kid’s programming, requires that adults be shown supervising children when products or activities could be risky.
Advertisers spend most of their waking hours trying to anticipate what their audiences will want and how they’ll react. We try our best, but sometimes we miss.
Pharmaceutical advertising
Information is ethically neutral. In an academic setting like this, we welcome more information because the marketplace of ideas enables individuals to form their own judgments – which brings us to advertising about prescription drugs. Not long ago, only a doctor could tell you about a new medicine. You probably never heard of it before you walked in; you didn’t know if it was the only one in the world or one of dozens that did pretty much the same thing. Now advertisers spend millions of dollars telling you about their medicines. Advertising puts more information in people’s hands. Studies show that drug ads raise awareness of some conditions so more people seek treatment. And they know more about their options before seeing the doctor. But of course the drug companies don’t advertise their cheapest products. They promote the big moneymakers. There’s more information out there, but it comes with a heavy dose of Point-of-View. Sometimes there are two points of view in the same commercial
Product placement

What are the ethics of advertising that doesn’t look like advertising? In a movie chase scene, the hero and the bad guy are going to need some kind of car to drive. In the theatre we have no way of knowing whether the director chose those cars because they fulfilled his artistic vision – or because the car manufacturer made a deal with the producer. The car people get exciting exposure for their brand and she saves a nice piece of change on her production budget. Audiences like realism in movies. Made-up brands break the spell because they’re obvious fakes. But the difference between something that’s just a prop and something that’s a product promotion is getting murkier all the time, on TV shows as well as movies.
This kind of “product placement” happens in real life, too. If you go out to a club tonight, you might see some particularly good-looking young people using a new kind of cell phone. It lets them shoot pictures of people to their friends across the room: “Here’s a cute guy – want to come and meet him?” Fun stuff like that. If you’re curious, maybe they’ve taken your picture and they’ll be happy to show you the phone and let you try it. The phone is very cool. And the people are what advertisers call “aspirational” because they’re way cooler than you are. They’re people you want to be. They’re also actors and this is a gig for them. Their job is creating the impression that using this phone is The Next Trend. If you ask them directly if they are actors, they won’t lie. But if you don’t ask, they won’t tell. This is the reverse of the Volvo story. Volvo’s demonstration was rigged, no question, but what viewers saw on TV was the truth. With this cell phone, the demonstration is the absolute truth, but the scene in the club is pure theatre.
Potter’s box

Values
• Truthfulness
• Honesty
• The Dignity of the Human Person
• Social Responsibility
Principles
Categorical imperative: Ethics based on duty “you are to act only on that maxim whereby should become a universal law”. This principle handles most of the issues at hand. For example, advertisers should be responsible in advertising the right products to avoid consequences that would harm the consumers but in case of children being used in advertisements, The Golden mean can be used. The Aristotle explains that Moral virtue is a middle state determined by practical wisdom. This means one must avoid the extremes. Thus, Children should go with their parents or guardians and can also appear in the advertisements for examples, Weetabix and Dettol.

THE HARM DONE BY ADVERTISING
a) Economic Harms of Advertising
b) Cultural Harms of Advertising
c) Moral and Religious Harms of Advertising
Loyalties
To company of client of the product
To the advertiser’s profession
To the society
To God

What drives the youth to do/wear some stuff?
1. Peer pressure. One would want to fit in with their friends or other people around them, hence wearing or doing something that they are not comfortable with.
2. Western culture. Since they are more civilized and we want to do everything just as they do. We try and emulate everything that they are doing.
3. Copying celebrities. We want to wear what they are wearing, because we look up to them and they look good.
4. Emphasis on a culture or a religion. For example the Maasai. They still wear beads and shoals and strictly adhere to the ways of their ancestors. Also the Muslims, who wear buibui or the Hindu who dress in saris.
Who starts trends?
There isn�t really a group of people who decide whether or not something is cool or dope. Basically, what happens is that designers and store owners use their best judgment to throw a lot of different looks out there and see what catches on. In the end, we decide what�s hot and what�s not through what we decide to buy or consume. What happens a lot lately is that stuff that is worn on the street by young people catches on and makes its way onto the fashion runways. Not every fashion idea originates with the fashion crowd or the designers: the consumer is in charge.
Celebrities set trends as well. It is mainly young children and adults (10-35 years old) who are affected by fashion. They all want to look trendy, sexy, and up-to-date. After all, who doesn�t want to be the talk of the town because of being hip-and this has a lot to do with societal pressure.
When fashion trends die it�s a fashion follower�s worst nightmare to be caught wearing the same dress to two different party events, or even wearing a fashion that is last year�s. The fashion industry is therefore always on the hunt for what�s raw, and what�s hot. And every single day, there is always a new fashion trend coming up-be it in Paris, or in Los Angeles. And if it�s that leopard skin Gucci bag that was hot today, it will be tossed aside like trash to make room for the new Marc Jacobs, red velvet bag that is in the following day.
The fashion cycle
First, there�s the emerging trend. (The American Association refers to this as the �distinctiveness� part of the cycle) where the trend is highly sought after. You know this as when you see that awesome dress/shoe on the runway, and on the red carpet.
Secondly, is what the AMA calls the emulate phase, where everyone wants a piece of the trend. You�ll see it in fashion magazines, newspapers, and the internet and on television.
Finally, the trend becomes saturated in the market, usually at very low prices. With trendy items like a must have hand bag, the item becomes widely available. Most of us will purchase an item due to the first two phases as only celebrities and fashion industry gurus have access to fashion items fresh off the runway-those which haven�t appeared in stores yet. (1st Phase)
At the second phase, a look is often available in high-priced designer collections. Only in the third phase, when a look makes it to the mass market, does it become affordable for most consumers. Twenty or thirty years ago, it might have taken a few years for a fashion trend to make it from the runway/red carpet to the mass market. Moreover, today�s manufactures have put the fashion cycle into high prospects. Nowadays, if you pull the right strings, you could get that black Stephen McQueen silhouette dress worn by Angelina Jolie at the Grammy Awards the following day!
Is fashion in or out?
Affordable trendy clothing, also referred to as �fast fashion�, is a double-edged sword. It makes fashion looks accessible to those of us on real-life budgets, but when the market is totally saturated with a look, a trend loses its appeal. A few general guidelines on how to know how long a trend will last are:
- Most fashion trends stick around for at least a year. Some may survive the harsh critiques of the ‘fashionistaz’ out there and last longer, for example, the straight jeans. One school of thought says that, �fashion cycles happen about every twenty years.� hence, that�s why the minis� of the 80�s are back in the game.
- A large part of deciding on how long a trend is in depends on where in the fashion cycle you purchased the trend. If you bought it at a discount store or at a knock-off price, then you should wear it for at least one season. Although there is no hard or fast rule about how long a fashion trend will stick around, you can bet that the more difficult to pull off looks are just fads that will eventually fade. That doesn�t mean that you shouldn�t have fun buying them! Explore! But keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you.
- The higher the profile, the more likely it is that the trend will look dated by the same time next year. Likewise, the more radical the cut, color, or print, the more certain that the trend will be long over by the same time next year.
- The best defense against quickly changing trends is to have a wardrobe that is stocked with mostly classic looks: jeans, t-shirts, blazers, little black dresses and so on. Use trendy items as an n addition to your wardrobe to give it a kick!

THE POTTER BOX THEORY AND ITS APPLICATION TO FASHION
Is it ethical to judge someone based on how they dress or because of their fashion sense? This is a question that is very contentious. Over the years, fashion trends have evolved, and based on how individuals have responded to the same, has led many people to be judged solely on their looks. Let�s take an example of the many women who have been stripped naked around Kenya because they were found wearing very tight fitting or short clothes. When their accusers are questioned about their actions, most respond by saying that the victimized women have poor morals. The burning question is how can one draw a conclusion about someone�s behaviour, let alone moral standards from their appearance?�
Our opinion is that people should have freedom of expression, be it through their dressing or their speech. In reference to the Potter Box theory, the above situation can be defined as a lady who fancies short skirts because they are comfortable to her and make her look and feel beautiful. The values in play here are freedom and comfort. The veil of ignorance is a principle that upholds these values. This theory states that justice can be upheld. Ignorance in this case is seeing this woman as immoral just because of her dressing, because, truthfully, there is more to her than meets the eye. She is God�s creation and we have all developed a different relationship with our Lord. Stripping, rejecting and judging her therefore is not the right thing to do. The Judeo-Christian theory says that we should do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. Would you as a man like to be stripped of your studs or shaved off your head because you have long hair or dreadlocks? Would you as a young lady like to be stripped in public? I doubt it.
The fourth step in the Potter Box theory is deciding to whom your loyalties lay. Based on the previous stages, the loyalty in the scenario defined ultimately belongs to the lady in the short skirt-her as an individual. She owes to herself to dress as she pleases. Like we mentioned earlier, your dressing is an expression of who you are, and if you as an individual are ready and willing to face the repercussions brought about by your employer, your friends and family and the society, the other loyalties that are to be observed, then go ahead and be yourself-dress in that mini-skirt. Facing rejection, being stripped, or being neglected are some of the consequences that you would face, and if you are ready to conform to all the consequences, then go ahead and dress like a hooker if you would like.
The main theme that we are trying to point out is that we cannot assume that people who wear suits are sophisticated, or ladies who cover up their legs are very moral. Just as we discussed in class, wearing a short skirt does not mean that a woman could get raped. If a rapist wants to rape you, it really does not matter whether you have locked yourself up in a box or that you are wearing twenty pairs of trousers!
Fashion is who you are, and how you view yourself. The latest fashion trends are just a guiding light into how this new outfit or trend would make you look more beautiful or sexy. And a fashion trend such as having dreadlocks on your head should not deter anyone into judging that individual-it is simply his/her preference. Not all can be classified as drug addicts, murderers, or dirty folk-that�s simply stereotyping them. Is G10, a National Women�s Organization a bad organization because most women there have dreadlocks? Not at all. India Aries, an inspirational singer from the west sang a song, �I�m not my Hair,� and we as a group believe that no-one should view and judge me by my outwards appearance, but by whom we are on the inside.

THEORIES TO ILLUSTRATE FASHION
Fashion is a statement, a styled form of expression which displays and begins to define a person, a place, a class, a time, a religion, a culture and even a nation. Fashion lies at the heart of persons, their identity and the communities in which they live.
In the utilitarianism theory, John Stuart and Jeremy Bertham argue that when making decisions, people consider that which will give them the greatest happiness or pleasure. We calculate the benefits of the various options and we choose the alternative that provides the greatest good for the greatest number.
Let�s take an example of the issue of men braiding their hair or wearing earrings. Culturally, it is unacceptable for a man to pierce his ears or to have long hair. Such an action is seen as a slap to our African culture. It is seen as a form of defiance. According to the utilitarian theory, people can do what brings them pleasure. If a man wants to braid his hair or pierce his ears, he is at liberty to do so, as long as he is not hurting anyone.
A lot of questions have been raised on whether it is ethical to pierce our bodies, get tattoos, and undergo plastic/cosmetic surgery or body sculpting. According to the deontology theory, an action is right if it�s in accordance with a moral rule or principle that is one that is required by rationality. Actions are either classified as right or wrong with no room for anything in between. According to this theory, you have a duty to do right and you are responsible for making sure that you don�t commit violations. If something is wrong, it is wrong and you are not supposed to do it. For example if culture, for example the Muslim culture, or traditionalists say that it is wrong for women to wear trousers, then no matter how liberated the women feel, wearing trousers is unethical.
All in all, there is not a theory that tells us really what is right or wrong in fashion. All take different approaches and all look at things from different points of view. In the end, it all boils down to the individual and what they consider ethical or not. There are of course those extremes that can�t be crossed as they are part of the statutory law.
ETHICAL QUESTIONS IN FASHION
When it comes to fashion, there are always questions that we ask ourselves and others. When you wear that outfit in the morning, you always ask yourself, do I look good in this? I�m I adhering to the dress codes of Daystar University? Will that guy/girl notice me today? You would even go the extent of getting a second opinion from your friends. Whatever your guiding question may be, it always falls down to, �do I look like an mshamba?� This is because you want everything to match-you want to be in with the trend.
Also, we have the big question, �Is it right for models to pause nude for pictures for fashion purposes?� They could be modeling for a certain clothing line, or perfume, or even advertising a product- is it ethical? In a situation where they are modeling an underwear line, say Victoria Secret or Tommy Hilfiger, would you really expect them to pose fully dressed? Some modeling agencies have nonetheless taken it too far to the extent where a model would be wearing underwear only with no bra on, or showing the behinds of men. This is wrong- in all ways! There are indeed better ways of selling that fashion trend, and unless we are mistaken, looking naked is not a fashion trend. (Not yet anyway) The renowned show �America�s Next Top Model� has definitely crossed the line. There is an episode where they are supposedly modeling for underwear and the women are all nude on their top sides; they were only wearing underwear and the men were naked. To add oil to fire, they were kissing and embracing themselves in explicit manner of ways. Honestly, I thought the point of the whole photo shoot was simply to advertise the underwear! That is unethical. (Appendix 1)
Models are now becoming anorexic, or underweight as a result of satisfying the needs of their employer. A size zero models is appropriate, and if a model were to gain even half a kilogram, she would either lose her job automatically or given a sound and strict warning to lose that excess weight.
When you view the modeling industry, we find that, they accept ladies who have a body mass index of fewer than 18, which is considered unhealthy medically.
Today, digital enhancements of pictures are done to these models to make the models look or appear slimmer and even more attractive. Case in point is when Alicia Keys visited Kenya sometime last year. The image of her that most of us had in mind is that of a beautiful young, lady with curves in all the right places. Unfortunately, when she arrived and her photos were displayed in most publications, we were shocked to realize that she has pimples/acne on her face and that she was a very slim individual.
Runway models also dress in all manner of ways. One of us was lucky enough to attend �Runway Kenya� where new and upcoming designers could ‘strut’ their stuff. At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary, but then, the models started appearing in net like-see through attire that exposed them completely! As much as the net was there, it did not do any justice in trying to cover up their bodies. This leads us to our next big question, in order to get the big pay check, are you willing to go to such extremes? They were comfortable, however, we believe the only time that we were allowed to feel comfortable naked was when we were babies.
The models themselves suffer. Some, depending on their contracts, work long hours-late into the night and are on the job as soon as their agent says “go”. The plight of underage models is also noticeable. Is it right to subject a 15 year old to the harsh realities of the modeling industry? Is the money really worth putting your child or sister through?
There is a Christian modeling agency based in the United States of America known as M4J, Model for Jesus. Model for Jesus is a Christian fashion agency and ministry for Christian models. (Appendix 3)
Another ethical dilemma that is very evident is trying to look like the models themselves; those who bring fashion to us. Winnie Kimeu, a member of the COM 419 class and a group member to this group was good friends with a lady in high school who was deeply rooted in the western approach to fashion. Winnie�s friend used to eat and the later go induce vomiting on herself immediately. Her only reason is that she did not want to become big, and yet, the irony is that she only weighed in at 34 kilograms, and had the figure of a toothpick. She was anorexic and bulimic, and she was obsessed with becoming thin. Her motivation�the famous movie actress and singer, Lindsey Lohan. How are you to direct someone such as that into not conforming into the long arm of fashion, so to speak?
We believe that she is not alone; there are many young ladies, as young as 11 years of age who force these habits on themselves in order to look beautiful.
WHAT DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FASHION?
According to the Bible, in 1 Samuel 16:7b, it says that, �For the Lord does not see me as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.� If God looks at the heart, what does He see when he looks at you? Does he see someone who is seeking him or does he see someone seeking the world?
Maybe you feel you are in between, that you aren�t fully seeking the world. If that is the case, you need to choose. In Mathew12:30, it says that, �He who is not with Me is against Me�And also in Revelation 3:16 it says of the lukewarm Christian: �So then, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.�
We cannot seek God and also seek the world, we must choose on e or the other. Can others see your heart, by what you wear on the outside? Are you portraying something that you are not?
1 Timothy 2:9 �In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing��
Do you dress modestly? Are the things you wear pleasing to God? If you were to go shopping with Jesus, would you still buy the clothes that you do?
Here are some questions for you to ponder about
� What are some of the things the world tells us we will gain by dressing in the latest fashions and following the latest fad?
� What are some ways that the world portrays that message to us?
� How important are clothes and looks to you?
� How important is it to you to be able to say the right things and know the right stuff in order to fit in?
� Would you say that you spend more time worrying about how you look in front of others than about how you look before God?
� Do you find yourself dressing differently depending on who you�re going to be around?
� Do you sometimes do things or act in a certain way in order to fit in with those around you?
� Not only does how we dress and act affect us, it also affects those around us.
� Do you seek to see the hearts of those around you or do you judge them by their outward appearance?
� Are there some people that you don�t associate with because they act or dress differently, especially those who aren�t in the �in-crowd�?
� Think about how you dress and the way that you interact with those around you, (namely guys or girls); is there anything about you that might be a stumbling block to them?
CONCLUSION
Fashion-we can�t live with it, and we still can�t live without it. It has been the cause of many a quarrel in many households; the children want this simply because all their friends have it, or the wife/husband wants that because his/her friend Mama So and so also has it� it�s a never ending saga. And whether we choose to embrace it or not, it is here to stay-regardless!
Moreover, we are all rational Christian beings who know the difference from what is right and what is wrong. We are all beautifully and wonderfully made. We do not need the model figure specifications of 36-34-36 in order to be classified as beautiful. Whether you are big, or slim, or you have short kinky hair; even if your nose is too big for your face and you have flappers for ears, it all really doesn�t matter. We are all made in the image and likeness of God, and we do not need fashion to define who I am. It�s what is inside us that matters.
There is really no big secret to determining what not to where or what looks good on you, and fashion should certainly not be the defining judge as to how you should dress. You know yourself better than anyone else in this world knows you, therefore dress to suite �you�; dress to impress �you�; dress to be �you�.

THANK YOU

REFERENCES
� www.about.com
� www.fashionindustrymakers/louisvuitton/paris
� www.wikipedia.com
� www.modelforjesus.com
� True love Magazine Issue 7823, November 2008. Page 96-109

What drives the youth to do/wear some stuff?
1. Peer pressure. One would want to fit in with their friends or other people around them, hence wearing or doing something that they are not comfortable with.
2. Western culture. Since they are more civilized and we want to do everything just as they do. We try and emulate everything that they are doing.
3. Copying celebrities. We want to wear what they are wearing, because we look up to them and they look good.
4. Emphasis on a culture or a religion. For example the Maasai. They still wear beads and shoals and strictly adhere to the ways of their ancestors. Also the Muslims, who wear buibui or the Hindu who dress in saris.
Who starts trends?
There isn’t really a group of people who decide whether or not something is cool or dope. Basically, what happens is that designers and store owners use their best judgment to throw a lot of different looks out there and see what catches on. In the end, we decide what’s hot and what’s not through what we decide to buy or consume. What happens a lot lately is that stuff that is worn on the street by young people catches on and makes its way onto the fashion runways. Not every fashion idea originates with the fashion crowd or the designers: the consumer is in charge.
Celebrities set trends as well. It is mainly young children and adults (10-35 years old) who are affected by fashion. They all want to look trendy, sexy, and up-to-date. After all, who doesn’t want to be the talk of the town because of being hip-and this has a lot to do with societal pressure.
When fashion trends die it’s a fashion follower’s worst nightmare to be caught wearing the same dress to two different party events, or even wearing a fashion that is last year’s. The fashion industry is therefore always on the hunt for what’s raw, and what’s hot. And every single day, there is always a new fashion trend coming up-be it in Paris, or in Los Angeles. And if it’s that leopard skin Gucci bag that was hot today, it will be tossed aside like trash to make room for the new Marc Jacobs, red velvet bag that is in the following day.
The fashion cycle
First, there’s the emerging trend. (The American Association refers to this as the “distinctiveness” part of the cycle) where the trend is highly sought after. You know this as when you see that awesome dress/shoe on the runway, and on the red carpet.
Secondly, is what the AMA calls the emulate phase, where everyone wants a piece of the trend. You’ll see it in fashion magazines, newspapers, and the internet and on television.
Finally, the trend becomes saturated in the market, usually at very low prices. With trendy items like a must have hand bag, the item becomes widely available. Most of us will purchase an item due to the first two phases as only celebrities and fashion industry gurus have access to fashion items fresh off the runway-those which haven’t appeared in stores yet. (1st Phase)
At the second phase, a look is often available in high-priced designer collections. Only in the third phase, when a look makes it to the mass market, does it become affordable for most consumers. Twenty or thirty years ago, it might have taken a few years for a fashion trend to make it from the runway/red carpet to the mass market. Moreover, today’s manufactures have put the fashion cycle into high prospects. Nowadays, if you pull the right strings, you could get that black Stephen McQueen silhouette dress worn by Angelina Jolie at the Grammy Awards the following day!
Is fashion in or out?
Affordable trendy clothing, also referred to as “fast fashion”, is a double-edged sword. It makes fashion looks accessible to those of us on real-life budgets, but when the market is totally saturated with a look, a trend loses its appeal. A few general guidelines on how to know how long a trend will last are:
- Most fashion trends stick around for at least a year. Some may survive the harsh critiques of the ‘fashionistaz’ out there and last longer, for example, the straight jeans. One school of thought says that, “fashion cycles happen about every twenty years.” hence, that’s why the minis’ of the 80’s are back in the game.
- A large part of deciding on how long a trend is in depends on where in the fashion cycle you purchased the trend. If you bought it at a discount store or at a knock-off price, then you should wear it for at least one season. Although there is no hard or fast rule about how long a fashion trend will stick around, you can bet that the more difficult to pull off looks are just fads that will eventually fade. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have fun buying them! Explore! But keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you.
- The higher the profile, the more likely it is that the trend will look dated by the same time next year. Likewise, the more radical the cut, color, or print, the more certain that the trend will be long over by the same time next year.
- The best defense against quickly changing trends is to have a wardrobe that is stocked with mostly classic looks: jeans, t-shirts, blazers, little black dresses and so on. Use trendy items as an n addition to your wardrobe to give it a kick!

THE POTTER BOX THEORY AND ITS APPLICATION TO FASHION
Is it ethical to judge someone based on how they dress or because of their fashion sense? This is a question that is very contentious. Over the years, fashion trends have evolved, and based on how individuals have responded to the same, has led many people to be judged solely on their looks. Let’s take an example of the many women who have been stripped naked around Kenya because they were found wearing very tight fitting or short clothes. When their accusers are questioned about their actions, most respond by saying that the victimized women have poor morals. The burning question is how can one draw a conclusion about someone’s behaviour, let alone moral standards from their appearance?”
Our opinion is that people should have freedom of expression, be it through their dressing or their speech. In reference to the Potter Box theory, the above situation can be defined as a lady who fancies short skirts because they are comfortable to her and make her look and feel beautiful. The values in play here are freedom and comfort. The veil of ignorance is a principle that upholds these values. This theory states that justice can be upheld. Ignorance in this case is seeing this woman as immoral just because of her dressing, because, truthfully, there is more to her than meets the eye. She is God’s creation and we have all developed a different relationship with our Lord. Stripping, rejecting and judging her therefore is not the right thing to do. The Judeo-Christian theory says that we should do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. Would you as a man like to be stripped of your studs or shaved off your head because you have long hair or dreadlocks? Would you as a young lady like to be stripped in public? I doubt it.
The fourth step in the Potter Box theory is deciding to whom your loyalties lay. Based on the previous stages, the loyalty in the scenario defined ultimately belongs to the lady in the short skirt-her as an individual. She owes to herself to dress as she pleases. Like we mentioned earlier, your dressing is an expression of who you are, and if you as an individual are ready and willing to face the repercussions brought about by your employer, your friends and family and the society, the other loyalties that are to be observed, then go ahead and be yourself-dress in that mini-skirt. Facing rejection, being stripped, or being neglected are some of the consequences that you would face, and if you are ready to conform to all the consequences, then go ahead and dress like a hooker if you would like.
The main theme that we are trying to point out is that we cannot assume that people who wear suits are sophisticated, or ladies who cover up their legs are very moral. Just as we discussed in class, wearing a short skirt does not mean that a woman could get raped. If a rapist wants to rape you, it really does not matter whether you have locked yourself up in a box or that you are wearing twenty pairs of trousers!
Fashion is who you are, and how you view yourself. The latest fashion trends are just a guiding light into how this new outfit or trend would make you look more beautiful or sexy. And a fashion trend such as having dreadlocks on your head should not deter anyone into judging that individual-it is simply his/her preference. Not all can be classified as drug addicts, murderers, or dirty folk-that’s simply stereotyping them. Is G10, a National Women’s Organization a bad organization because most women there have dreadlocks? Not at all. India Aries, an inspirational singer from the west sang a song, “I’m not my Hair,” and we as a group believe that no-one should view and judge me by my outwards appearance, but by whom we are on the inside.

THEORIES TO ILLUSTRATE FASHION
Fashion is a statement, a styled form of expression which displays and begins to define a person, a place, a class, a time, a religion, a culture and even a nation. Fashion lies at the heart of persons, their identity and the communities in which they live.
In the utilitarianism theory, John Stuart and Jeremy Bertham argue that when making decisions, people consider that which will give them the greatest happiness or pleasure. We calculate the benefits of the various options and we choose the alternative that provides the greatest good for the greatest number.
Let’s take an example of the issue of men braiding their hair or wearing earrings. Culturally, it is unacceptable for a man to pierce his ears or to have long hair. Such an action is seen as a slap to our African culture. It is seen as a form of defiance. According to the utilitarian theory, people can do what brings them pleasure. If a man wants to braid his hair or pierce his ears, he is at liberty to do so, as long as he is not hurting anyone.
A lot of questions have been raised on whether it is ethical to pierce our bodies, get tattoos, and undergo plastic/cosmetic surgery or body sculpting. According to the deontology theory, an action is right if it’s in accordance with a moral rule or principle that is one that is required by rationality. Actions are either classified as right or wrong with no room for anything in between. According to this theory, you have a duty to do right and you are responsible for making sure that you don’t commit violations. If something is wrong, it is wrong and you are not supposed to do it. For example if culture, for example the Muslim culture, or traditionalists say that it is wrong for women to wear trousers, then no matter how liberated the women feel, wearing trousers is unethical.
All in all, there is not a theory that tells us really what is right or wrong in fashion. All take different approaches and all look at things from different points of view. In the end, it all boils down to the individual and what they consider ethical or not. There are of course those extremes that can’t be crossed as they are part of the statutory law.
ETHICAL QUESTIONS IN FASHION
When it comes to fashion, there are always questions that we ask ourselves and others. When you wear that outfit in the morning, you always ask yourself, do I look good in this? I’m I adhering to the dress codes of Daystar University? Will that guy/girl notice me today? You would even go the extent of getting a second opinion from your friends. Whatever your guiding question may be, it always falls down to, “do I look like an mshamba?” This is because you want everything to match-you want to be in with the trend.
Also, we have the big question, “Is it right for models to pause nude for pictures for fashion purposes?” They could be modeling for a certain clothing line, or perfume, or even advertising a product- is it ethical? In a situation where they are modeling an underwear line, say Victoria Secret or Tommy Hilfiger, would you really expect them to pose fully dressed? Some modeling agencies have nonetheless taken it too far to the extent where a model would be wearing underwear only with no bra on, or showing the behinds of men. This is wrong- in all ways! There are indeed better ways of selling that fashion trend, and unless we are mistaken, looking naked is not a fashion trend. (Not yet anyway) The renowned show ‘America’s Next Top Model’ has definitely crossed the line. There is an episode where they are supposedly modeling for underwear and the women are all nude on their top sides; they were only wearing underwear and the men were naked. To add oil to fire, they were kissing and embracing themselves in explicit manner of ways. Honestly, I thought the point of the whole photo shoot was simply to advertise the underwear! That is unethical. (Appendix 1)
Models are now becoming anorexic, or underweight as a result of satisfying the needs of their employer. A size zero models is appropriate, and if a model were to gain even half a kilogram, she would either lose her job automatically or given a sound and strict warning to lose that excess weight.
When you view the modeling industry, we find that, they accept ladies who have a body mass index of fewer than 18, which is considered unhealthy medically.
Today, digital enhancements of pictures are done to these models to make the models look or appear slimmer and even more attractive. Case in point is when Alicia Keys visited Kenya sometime last year. The image of her that most of us had in mind is that of a beautiful young, lady with curves in all the right places. Unfortunately, when she arrived and her photos were displayed in most publications, we were shocked to realize that she has pimples/acne on her face and that she was a very slim individual.
Runway models also dress in all manner of ways. One of us was lucky enough to attend “Runway Kenya” where new and upcoming designers could ‘strut’ their stuff. At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary, but then, the models started appearing in net like-see through attire that exposed them completely! As much as the net was there, it did not do any justice in trying to cover up their bodies. This leads us to our next big question, in order to get the big pay check, are you willing to go to such extremes? They were comfortable, however, we believe the only time that we were allowed to feel comfortable naked was when we were babies.
The models themselves suffer. Some, depending on their contracts, work long hours-late into the night and are on the job as soon as their agent says “go”. The plight of underage models is also noticeable. Is it right to subject a 15 year old to the harsh realities of the modeling industry? Is the money really worth putting your child or sister through?
There is a Christian modeling agency based in the United States of America known as M4J, Model for Jesus. Model for Jesus is a Christian fashion agency and ministry for Christian models. (Appendix 3)
Another ethical dilemma that is very evident is trying to look like the models themselves; those who bring fashion to us. Winnie Kimeu, a member of the COM 419 class and a group member to this group was good friends with a lady in high school who was deeply rooted in the western approach to fashion. Winnie’s friend used to eat and the later go induce vomiting on herself immediately. Her only reason is that she did not want to become big, and yet, the irony is that she only weighed in at 34 kilograms, and had the figure of a toothpick. She was anorexic and bulimic, and she was obsessed with becoming thin. Her motivation…the famous movie actress and singer, Lindsey Lohan. How are you to direct someone such as that into not conforming into the long arm of fashion, so to speak?
We believe that she is not alone; there are many young ladies, as young as 11 years of age who force these habits on themselves in order to look beautiful.
WHAT DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FASHION?
According to the Bible, in 1 Samuel 16:7b, it says that, “For the Lord does not see me as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If God looks at the heart, what does He see when he looks at you? Does he see someone who is seeking him or does he see someone seeking the world?
Maybe you feel you are in between, that you aren’t fully seeking the world. If that is the case, you need to choose. In Mathew12:30, it says that, “He who is not with Me is against Me…And also in Revelation 3:16 it says of the lukewarm Christian: “So then, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
We cannot seek God and also seek the world, we must choose on e or the other. Can others see your heart, by what you wear on the outside? Are you portraying something that you are not?
1 Timothy 2:9 “In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing…”
Do you dress modestly? Are the things you wear pleasing to God? If you were to go shopping with Jesus, would you still buy the clothes that you do?
Here are some questions for you to ponder about
• What are some of the things the world tells us we will gain by dressing in the latest fashions and following the latest fad?
• What are some ways that the world portrays that message to us?
• How important are clothes and looks to you?
• How important is it to you to be able to say the right things and know the right stuff in order to fit in?
• Would you say that you spend more time worrying about how you look in front of others than about how you look before God?
• Do you find yourself dressing differently depending on who you’re going to be around?
• Do you sometimes do things or act in a certain way in order to fit in with those around you?
• Not only does how we dress and act affect us, it also affects those around us.
• Do you seek to see the hearts of those around you or do you judge them by their outward appearance?
• Are there some people that you don’t associate with because they act or dress differently, especially those who aren’t in the ‘in-crowd’?
• Think about how you dress and the way that you interact with those around you, (namely guys or girls); is there anything about you that might be a stumbling block to them?
CONCLUSION
Fashion-we can’t live with it, and we still can’t live without it. It has been the cause of many a quarrel in many households; the children want this simply because all their friends have it, or the wife/husband wants that because his/her friend Mama So and so also has it… it’s a never ending saga. And whether we choose to embrace it or not, it is here to stay-regardless!
Moreover, we are all rational Christian beings who know the difference from what is right and what is wrong. We are all beautifully and wonderfully made. We do not need the model figure specifications of 36-34-36 in order to be classified as beautiful. Whether you are big, or slim, or you have short kinky hair; even if your nose is too big for your face and you have flappers for ears, it all really doesn’t matter. We are all made in the image and likeness of God, and we do not need fashion to define who I am. It’s what is inside us that matters.
There is really no big secret to determining what not to where or what looks good on you, and fashion should certainly not be the defining judge as to how you should dress. You know yourself better than anyone else in this world knows you, therefore dress to suite ‘you’; dress to impress ‘you’; dress to be ‘you’.

THANK YOU

REFERENCES
• www.about.com
• www.fashionindustrymakers/louisvuitton/paris
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.modelforjesus.com
• True love Magazine Issue 7823, November 2008. Page 96-109

Done by: Ruth Mulwa, Maureen Murimi, Gordon Mutugi and Annette Mombo

Introduction

According to wikipedia.org, tribalism is behavior, attitudes that are based on being loyal to a tribe or other social group. It is the very first social system that human beings have lived in. Tribalism can also be said as the possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates a person as a member of a one group from members of another group.

Nepotism on the  other hand is the showing of favoritism for relatives or friends based upon that relationship, rather than on an objective evaluation of ability or suitability, for instance by offering employment to a relative, despite the fact that there are others who are better qualified and willing and able to perform the job. The word nepotism is from the Latin word Nepos meaning “nephew” or “grandchild“.

Objectives:

            The objectives of this paper are to show that tribalism and nepotism are problems that are being ignored in our country and they have crude consequences. It also aims to show possible causes, effects and solutions of these vices. It highlights ethical issues and the application of different ethical theories to deal with tribalism and also possible solutions to this problem.

Body:

In the case of tribalism and nepotism various ethical theories can apply. One is the veil of ignorance which states; “justice emerges when negotiating without social differentiations.” Looking at the post election violence which occurred in 2007-2008, the two parties,-P.N.U and O.D.M- would have opted to sit and come to an agreement without letting their members kill each other. Morally appropriate action should have been taken. Whoever rigged the election should have faced justice. Swearing in Mwai Kibaki as the president was done in an unethical manner, it was a rushed process which left us Kenyans with many unanswered questions.

The other theory is Judeo-Christian which states, “do unto others as you would that they did unto you.” No one would wish to be lied to by another or killed by the other.  In this case therefore, they would have thought of it this way; that it would be bad to steal from the other since none would want to be stolen from, so the process would have continued without any interference. The main push of all the violence was selfishness and power, either party wanted to have power over the other.

            However tribalism has an advantage. It helps keep individuals committed to the group. Social divisions between groups create special interactions with others based on association, positive interactions with unrelated members and violence. It also gives us a sense of identity; it is where we derive a sense of pride in being African. We need to take advantage of our strong tribal ties to create democracy that will derive power from tribal belonging instead of using it for selfish gains.

Case study:

During the post election violence majority of those killed were the Kikuyu living in the areas largely populated by the Luo and the Kalenjins. In this regard, the Luo and the Kalenjins had ganged up to fight the Kikuyu, a situation which had been described by many international communities as another Rwanda Genocide mainly because of the kinds of instruments used in the mass killing.

BBC and many international Television networks showed how the Kikuyu were leaving the western parts of Kenya as well as how the youth belonging to the Luo and Kalenjin tribes had taken matters in their own hands as they loot, kill and terrorize the kikuyu.

In Eldoret, Kikuyus’ who sought refuge in one of the churches in town were burned to death as the church was razed to ashes, a situation which raised a lot of questions and concerns. How could the Luo or Kalenjin youths burn the church, a house of prayer? Do you have to burn both the church and people inside to demonstrate your anger?

According to information obtained from the Human Rights Watch investigations page on  Thursday, 24. January 2008; after Kenya’s disputed elections, opposition party officials and local elders planned and organized ethnic-based violence in the Rift Valley. A Kalenjin preacher in a village in Eldoret North constituency told Human Rights Watch that on the morning of December 29, 2007, a local ODM party  mobilizer called a meeting and said that war had broken in Eldoret town, so the elders organized the youth into groups of not less than 15, and they went to loot Kikuyu homes and burn them down.  In many communities, local leaders and ODM mobilizers arranged frequent meetings following the election to organize, direct and facilitate the violence unleashed by gangs of local youth. What could have been done is let the leaders sought out their own issues and not give room to be intimidated. Kenyans suffered because of a division created by our leaders. We should have united as one instead of killing one another because before the eyes of God we are the same, He does not classify us into tribes.

Tribalism is like cancer, it is a challenge that we face in Kenya and Africa as a whole. It is an evil that we have to overcome. Unfortunately majority of Africans are not able or willing to forsake their tribal allegiances. We need to understand our tribes before imposing  anything on them. Struggle for power is what is separatingand dividing us as a country. We must admit that tribalsim is a big problem which exists and not just brush it off. We need to admit that Africans are by nature tribalsitic but that should not stop us from dealing with this vice.

For one to have allegiance to a nation the benefits must outweigh those of belonging to a tribe. Therefore we should think of us as a nation and not just as tribes. African states need to form governments and institutions that have their power base in such institutions because this is where real power emanates from. Most Africans respect and have primary allegiance to the tribal structure. We should therefore balance both interests. An equal representation will ensure that the rights and interests of minority tribes are not trampled upon by majority tribes.

Tribalism as a social problem
Ethnic relations have three dimensions: the political, the legal, and the socio-psychological.

The political dimension: Politics is the lawful scramble for advantage and resources, which is done in an atmosphere of scarcity and limited seats of advantage, through a complex interplay of human factors. Wherever different ethnic groups live and work together, there must be some form of scramble, a chronic striving by each group to outdo the other.

The legal dimension:  Because politics can and does get ugly, a system of strict rules, laws and policies is essential if the different groups in society are not to resort to mischief in trying to gain an edge. In every society, unfortunately, the process of setting the ground rules of the scramble is essentially a political one. In Kenya, the law-making process has never been sober. Retired President Moi puts it best: “Siasa mbaya, maisha mabaya” (bad politics translates to a bad life). One of the lamentable achievements of Kenyan politics is that it has consistently dwarfed all other professions that impact on the quality of social life.

The socio-psychological dimension:  when it comes to tribalism it is some sort of competition. People are motivated by different things many of which are negative. Some of these motivations are conscious, others are unconscious. Every step of the way, there is struggle among beliefs, needs and desires. Unfortunately, Kenya’s version of politics has always succeeded to dismiss the importance of the socio-psychological dimension of ethnicity. Professionals such as psychologists and sociologists are hardly ever considered in the quest for solutions to problems like tribalism. Only during major national crises, such as the wave of school strikes that hit Kenya in mid last year, did we hear our politicians making casual comments like “Our students need guidance and counseling.”

Possible causes:

• Bad leadership
• Selfishness by serving personal interests instead of the needs of the people
• Corruption
• Contribution from our political leaders – careless utterances and incitement by politicians.
• Easy access to weapons of mass destruction- the availability of these weapons undermines security. The introduction and spread of such sophisticated weapons among these communities has intensified conflict and blurred the line between long-standing ethnic competition-traditionally manifested in cattle theft or rustling-and political violence.
• Strong ethnic divisions.
•  Polarized political issues.
• Political manipulation.
• Socio-economic disparities
• Lack of economic opportunity.

Effects of tribalism:

• Encourages hatred among people of different tribes.
• Brings corruption
• Promotes selfishness.
• Leads to discriminations against members of different tribes
• Contributes in slowing down the economy, since only people of the same tribe want to help each other as the rest suffer.
• Creates conflicts among people and may end up being fatal if these conflicts get out of hand.
• Encourages hypocrisy.
• Undermines security – The increasing availability of weapons in Kenya has helped fuel rise insecurity and, in some areas the growing militarization of society.
• Erodes prospects for development.
• Contributes to social disintegration, and makes the resort to violence more likely-and more deadly.

Possible solutions:

• The political leaders should be at the forefront in admitting that tribalism is a problem and they should be giving people guidance on how to deal with it.
•  Our leaders both political and religious should be loyal to serve the society wholly without giving into the demands of tribalism. They should remain neutral at whatever cost.
• Acknowledging that God created us equally and that there is no one superior than the other in His sight and so we should treat each other as equals.
• Ensure accountability of local security structures; and strengthen legal controls, particularly those related to the manufacture, possession, and transfer of firearms and ammunition.
• Everyone should embrace Rawl’s Veil of Ignorance. “Justice emerges when negotiating without social differentiation” for justice to be served, fairness is fundamental.

Nepotism

Nepotism is the showing of favoritism for relatives or friends upon that relationship, rather than an objective evaluation of ability or suitability e.g. offering a job to a relative despite the fact that there are others who are better qualified and willing. It is a common accusation in our politics when the relative of a man/woman in power ascends to power without proper qualification. At some point nepotism at high levels of government might lead to the creation of effective monarchies in nominal republics. Nepotism got its name after the church practice where some catholic bishops gave their own nephews positions of preference. There are places where nepotism is believed to thrive as much e.g. the civil service.

The government may have allowed cabinet ministers to either appoint or lobby for the appointment of relatives or tribesmen to public jobs. The ministers seem to be to be taking cue from the president who has been accused of making most of the government appointments from among close political from among close political cronies from Central Province. An example of nepotism is when some time this year minister for Transport, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, announced the appointment of Abdalla Hemed Mwarua as the Managing Director of the -Kenya Ports Authority, only days after coast leaders insisted they want the next MD to be from Coast Province. There are many other examples of tribal bias in public offices – the Police Force, Kenya Revenue Authority, the Central Bank of Kenya, the Judiciary, State House and the Office of the President are other examples.

Another example is the government which has created new districts in Bungoma but the choice of headquarters has left the residents dissatisfied. In all the districts the headquarters have been positioned in the neighborhood of the sitting MPs. E.g. Webuye is not in the middle of new Bungoma East District but it is a few metres from the Minister for Local Government Mr.Muskari Kombo’s Matulo home. Could this be the reason it was chosen as the new headquarters? The same goes for Member of Parliament Mr. Moses Wetangula whose home in Chwele market in Bungoma West is the new headquarters.

Case study

            The most extreme case is in Bungoma North, where the area MP, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, has decided that Mukuyuni, his small home village be the new headquarters of the district. The market centre is next to Dr Kituyi’s home, Mbakalo. Most of the residents there are relatives of the MP from his ancestral home of Sirisia. This confirms our fears that our leaders are not able to give a fair judgment to situations on the ground. However this situation could turn bitter when the mwananchi makes a choice in the next general elections.

            The tragedy now is that this vice is not confined to the public sector. The private sector has been following suit and some proprietors are now showing open bias when recruiting staff for their companies or enterprises. Indeed, chief executives are now – without hesitation – recruiting mainly their tribes-people. The danger is that this trend openly undermines the much-vaunted fight against corruption, whose effects are devastating. This argument is premised on the fact that tribal bias is itself a form of corruption and, unless the country appreciates the effects of corruption in its wider sense, the political leadership risks being accused of double standards by fighting one form of corruption while promoting another. It is such actions that have given rise to the argument that, other than direct theft of public resources, which is the limited dimension that the much-hyped war on corruption has been reduced to – never mind concerns of people waging a political battle in the name of fighting corruption – there are many other forms of corruption that need to be confronted.

            Sadly, these forms of corruption have just as much potential to destroy the country as the outright theft of public resources. From recent events, tribalism is currently the biggest form of corruption the country has to contend with. It is, in fact, true that theft of public resources is sometimes done in the name of the tribe. There are many people who steal – that’s exactly what it is – in the understanding that it is their tribe’s turn to eat.

            When the government came into power they promised that it would promote human rights, equality, job appointments on the basis of merit and economic reforms, the nation is now watching with horror as politicians snap up the few job opportunities available only to dish them out to tribesmen and cronies. It now looks like a minister, no matter what he/she says in public, can look no further than his/her tribe when an opportunity knocks to make an appointment to a public office. Unless the country confronts the question of nepotism and tribalism head on, the fight against corruption will go nowhere.

Problems associated with Nepotism

• Unequal distribution of resources
• Services rendered are of low quality due to incompetence of those performing the duties
• Negative growths of the economy as people serve their own interests and those of their relatives.
• Lead to fight for power because everyone wants to enrich himself by serving his selfish needs and those of his relatives
• Breeding ground for hatred and tribalism

Possible solutions of nepotism

• Assuming responsibility in the work place by adhering to the set standards that any employee in an organization must meet before being employed
• Patriotic campaign
• Using our diversity as a tool to unite us rather than divide us. There is much that can come form our   different ethnicities than the bad that come from it.
• Applying the Judeo-Christian theory; do unto others what you would want them to do unto you.
• People, and especially those in top positions, should practice virtue ethics; do what good people do.

Question;

You are the manager Kent and Cradle, and your company is looking for a corporate affairs manager. Of those who had applied and managed to go to the final stage are your brother and another gentleman. Your brother has a degree fresh from campus, and the other person has five years experience. What is the right thing to do?

Answer;

Application of the porter box where by;

Definition of the problem is; a dilemma- choosing between the brother and the other experienced gentleman

Our values are justice and fairness

Our principle is the veil of ignorance; justice emerges when negotiating without social differentiation.

Our loyalties are to the organization.

Conclusion

Tribalism and Nepotism are issues that our country faces and has to keep up with. Both lower the levels of development as they are the breeding grounds for corruption. Ironically, our leader who are supposed to show us the right path and lead us to success as they work with us to develop and improve our economy, are the biggest participants in it.

We should all apply the theory of Judeo Christian and Rawl’s veil of ignorance as we relate with each other. Doing unto others what we would want done to us and acknowledging that justice emerges when negotiating without social differentiation.

God created us all equally and before Him there is no tribe or race that is superior than the other. Who are we then to create tribes and to favor those that are close to and view others as less significant?

He that is the creator and owner of all loves us all and in the same manner we should love each other and treat them all equally. Our differences should not cause hatred amongst us but should be our pillars of strength.

They say I was a “kikuyu” before I became a Kenyan, maybe we should ask, who are you now?

The knowledge that God is Mind, the one divine intelligence that governs all, is also a great comfort. This Mind, being one, isn’t at war with itself, it isn’t confused or angry. It knows only harmony. Nor are there especially favored tribes, races, professions—whatever—in Mind. Since there is only one Mind, there isn’t a second or third mind to compete—to be smarter or inferior, to win or to lose. In her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The one Spirit includes all identities” (Science and Health, p. 333).

Eyes on Kenya

PEACE, LOVE AND UNITY: FOR WHOM?

Friday, 28. March 2008 von Abdilatif Abdalla

And so you come and talk to me

About “Peace, Love and Unity”

Expecting me to agree

Parroting your parody

In my poetry:

Decorating your tyranny

With bouquets of perfumed words and imagery

To drive away the stench of your treachery

And hoodwink humanity.

I refuse!

I refuse to enter my brain

And ask it to entertain

Even the sound of the idea, that our loves should entwine.

Because what by “Love” you define

Doesn’t tally with mine:

I love my heroes you ignore, persecute and kill,

You love my enemies who rob and enslave me still;

How, then, can there be love between you and me

When the beats of our hearts’ music are not in harmony

When our hearts pump in and out different colours of blood:

No! I refuse!

I refuse to sing your song of submission and despair

I will, instead,

Forge my own words

Which will cry out for my martyred heroes –

Past and present –

Whose blood and tears and death and toil

Gave life to the tree of the freedom of my soil,

Those who always sought

For freedom of speech and thought

And refused to bend or be bought;

Those whose faith never waned to call

For freedom to each and all,

Whose courage was their shield

And with their spear of truth they fought and killed;

Those who, with their lives, they swore

That, come what may, onward they will go

Till their humanity they restore!

Every day, every minute, I hear

The bones and blood of my heroes declare:

“There is a debt to square!”

Them, we have not forgotten

Them, we will always honour and mention.

With their memories we shall rekindle the fire

Spreading its flames of wrath and ire

To burn the roots of our oppression

And uncover your every evil intention!

How, then, can there be “Peace” between us?

How can there be peace between us

When I’ll never accept to bury the people’s anger in the tomb of my verse!

How can I forget decades and decades of my people’s suffering and pain?

Of tears and blood pouring from their limbs, like rain?

How can I ask them to sing your songs in high volume

To stifle the tormented sounds of those you torture and maim?

How can I draw veils over their eyes

To conceal and eclipse the scenes of numerous massacres?

I can still hear the echo of those dead proclaiming:

“Our Country!

Our wounded, mutilated country

Where the dead are not dead

And the living are not living;

Our Country!

Sculptured in fire and blood

Where the north is barren

And the south is hard;

Our Country!

In death we still bleed for you

For we have decided to fear death less

And decided to love death more

Because, if by living we are dying

Why, then, not die a little more

So that we can live longer?”

Should I ignore these voices

Of these noble daughters and sons of my land?

No! I refuse!

For it is their Unity I crave for,

Shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm we go

Not with you, whom we happen to know

That you take from a lamb and give to a lion more;

You, who have torn our house in two:

Ignoring the majority and favouring the few

But, “When the sun is darkened

When the stars fall and disperse

When the mountains are made to move away,

When the camels, ten months pregnant, are left untended

When the wild beasts are brought together

When the seas are set alight

When the souls are paired (like with like)

When of the infant girl, buried alive, is asked: ‘For what crime was she slain?’

When the records are laid open

And the sky is stripped bare…”¹

And there is nowhere to hide,

You, who today judge, shall be the accused!

by Abdilatif Abdalla

London

October 1988

Abdilatif Abdalla, a Kenyan political activist and a Swahili language instructor at Leipzig University Germany, is the author of Sauti ya Dhiki, Utenzi wa Maisha ya Adamu na Hawaa, Kenya Twendapi? and other literary and political classics. He translated Vàclav Havels Die Vernissage (Uzinduzi).

Reference list

East African Standard 18th Feb 2007

Daily Nation 30th June 2009;

Human rights watch;

http://catholic-forum.com/saints;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nepotism;

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/Kenya;

http://www.africaaction.org;

http://www.onekenya.net/

Genres
The main genres of cartoon animation are: comic/anime, musicals, educative cartoons, science fiction, fantasy, talking animals and comedy. Cartoons classified as comics or anime are usually about super heroes who rid the world of evil and are sometimes based on comic book characters. They involve around action and fighting and examples include Superman and Batman. Musical cartoons such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella tend to be targeted towards children in their early developmental stages as they appeal to them through song. Educative cartoons help children learn skills such as counting and recognizing shapes and colours when they are beginning formal education. Sesame Street is the longest running educative program that includes the use of puppets and motion cartoons to aid informal learning. Fantasy cartoons are those that embody false reality and paint a perfect world with happy endings where the good guys always win. Snow White and Sleeping beauty are good examples for these, where Prince Charming always saves the day and they live happily ever after. Comedy cartoons involve cartoon characters that are used to bring out humorous scenarios such as The Road Runner or Tom and Jerry. Under science fiction, the cartoons focus on outer space adventures and speculative scientific discoveries or developments. Dexter’s Lab, Pinky and the Brain as well as Transformers fall under this.

Themes
There are various themes featured in motion cartoons. We have those that focus on love, morality; the fight between good and evil, family values, heroism and friendship. These nurture and cultivate good moral values in children and take on the role of being educative. However, not all cartoons have positive themes. Some such as South Park lean towards pornography, sedition, violence and profane humour which have led to the rise of a number of ethical concerns regarding animations in regard to moulding the minds of young children. They are targeted towards an adult market but unfortunately land in the hands of youngsters who end up being corrupted by their vulgarity and disturbing mental pictures.

Animation in Kenya
In Africa, the concept of animation is relatively new, but last year nine animation films from Kenya were screened at the prestigious Africa in Motion (AiM) festival that ran in Edinburgh, UK.A major factor that has also contributed to the growth of animation in Kenya is the Africa Animated Projects that were run by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Nairobi between 2001 and 2004. These projects encouraged, graphic designers, filmmakers and local artists to expand their professions and venture into the field of animation.

Animation in Kenya is rapidly making an appearance with small but professional productions appearing on the scene. Although currently there is no industry or commercial viability to sustain large feature length animated films, Kenyan animators are single-handedly producing work that excels in quality work. The content targets African children, presenting narratives that folk tales that involve folk tales and social issues such as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. The Homeboyz Studio in Nairobi’s industrial Area is known for making a ground breaking deal with the Walt Disney production company to produce a cartoon series of 46 episodes. These will be aired on the Disney channel and will put emphasis on good moral values brought out by animal folk tales; positive messages that children will be exposed to and will hopefully set a positive trend for animators in Kenya.

There are two major institutions that train Kenyans in animation and they are situated in the Nairobi City Centre. These include: N.I.T (Nairobi Institute of Technology) and Shang Tao. They have produced graphic designers and animators who are advancing in their fields both here and abroad. Initially, there were no institutions that offered the know-how and skill development for this type of art and Kenyans would have to study abroad in these fields in places such as Malaysia and the United Kingdom which is quite an expensive venture. However, now that the courses are within our nation, there is hope for the development of animation.

Violence and Abusive Language
Ben 10, Power puff girls, Billy and Mandy, Lilo and Stitch, Tom and Jerry, road runner, Bleach, Naruto, Witch blade. These are cartoons that are common in childrens viewing schedules. They also contain a certain amount of violence. Unfortunately in this day and age few cartoons choose peaceful ways to settle conflict among the characters. Although at the end of the cartoon good usually triumphs over bad, violence is oft the means by which this result is attained.
Children are more susceptible to influence whether intentional or unintentional. Thus the notion of violence as a means to settle disputes and problems seeps into society at a young age and is hard to dispel when the child is older.
Language is also increasingly degrading. Once it was not allowed to use words like “damn”, “hell” or “shit” in cartoons however these words have snuck in and are being used casually. This translates to children and future generations who begin to use these words like commonplace terms. Certain cartoons like boondocks, Family guy and Southpark often make use of the most offensive words in English. Although these cartoons are meant for an adult audience they often find their way into children’s hands, who then soak up the words, violence and actions like dry sponges.
Adults are also affected although they have more resistance. Watching an entire series of South Park exposes the brain to continuous and repetitive use of curse words and violent actions. As such the brain connects the words to certain situations and actions. Should one encounter such situations, it is highly likely that they will think using those words and even utter them. It starts with a random word or two then eventually becomes a habit.
Pornography
Cartoons were traditionally the forte of children but with increasing adult viewers pornography has snuck in. there isn’t a clearly defined line as to where children’s cartoons and adult cartoons are separated thus cartoons containing sexual references are often mixed with those that are suitable for children. Children who watch certain cartoons like Southpark may develop negative stereotypes towards relations between members of the opposite sexes. They may also develop a casual and immoral attitude towards an act that is sacred and special.
Children are not the only ones affected as even adults are affected by the sexual content. Pornography in cartoons has increased to the extent that there is pure hard core pornography in the form of cartoons. The form that is mainly invading Kenya is ‘hentai’- Japanese cartoon pornography. This is easily downloaded from many internet sites that allow live streaming or video downloads. Also with the advent of the fibre optic cable it will soon be much easier and faster to get access to such material, even for children with basic internet knowledge.
Children would not be able to differentiate Adult cartoons and those suitable for their age thus they can easily download that that is not suitable for them. They also have very active minds and are curious thus will be very tempted and may succumb to watching what they may realize is wrong for them.
We must also take into consideration that children may have the mentality that anything in a cartoon is okay for them to view. A parent finding a child watching cartoon pornography may resort to harsh action feeling that the child should know better than to watch such. Yet the child does not understand why they are being punished for watching what they watch daily. This can lead to misunderstanding and resentment in their relationship
Commercialization and Merchandising
Barbie girl t-shirts and tank tops, Ben 10 back packs, Bleach Pencil pouches, Batman pencils, Spiderman rulers, Tom and Jerry sheets, Sonic the hedgehog bed covers and the little mermaid lunch boxes.
Merchandising of cartoons is a common and everyday action. It is not unusual to walk through our supermarkets, stores and open air markets and come across items of everyday use which are branded or have the logos of popular action cartoon characters.
The ethical issues come in the position parents are put in when their children demand to have such goods. When marketing strategies like ‘Every girl has Barbie toothpaste’ or ‘Bratz hair goods, for girls who are pretty’, are used children who don’t have the aforementioned goods may feel undermined and inferior. Thus feelings like inferiority complexes arise, which may lead to long term psychological issues that may require medical attention.
Commercialization of cartoons is the process by which other products are introduced into popular cartoons to give the impression that the cartoon characters use and prefer these products. An example would be super strikers that had loads of coca cola adverts.
Commercialization in cartoons is often subtle and most people do not notice them. A cartoon character may prefer a certain brand of drink and a child will want to identify with their favourite cartoon thus take up the drink. The question is “is it right to influence children this way”
Reality versus Fiction
Cartoons are make-believe characters, all adults know that, but do children know? Can children tell the difference between what is real and what is fictional? When Tom is shaved using a lawn mower by Jerry can kids tell that this in actuality is not possible without serious injury being caused to the famous cat?
Can children tell that it is not possible to get bitten by a genetically modified spider and gain superhuman powers? With their natural curiosity isn’t it likely that one might look for a spider to give them a bite that will cause serious harm.
Do children realize that there are no superheroes in the world? Can they tell that certain things like crashing through a wall and walking away unharmed are not possible? Do they know that the fight scenes should not be replayed or re-enacted without appropriate caution? Do they know not to try to do the crazy antics and actions done by cartoon characters? To put it simply, can they figure out what applies in reality and what does not?
We have all heard stories of kids trying to make babies because cartoon characters tried to. Or wrestling and fighting each other the way a certain cartoon depicted, ending up hurt or at times in hospital.
Should parents explain what is reality and fiction at the probable risk of taking the novelty out of cartoons? This is similar to the debate about whether it is right to let a child believe in Santa Claus.
If we are to explain the truth, then to what extent should we explain; everything or only that that is enough to keep them out of trouble and harms way? We also have to ask ourselves whether it is right to let our children believe in characters who are not real.

Anti-socialisation
Substitute babysitters are what TVs are being referred to today. One of the reasons that parents like cartoons is because they keep the children busy as they go about their business. This is in itself a good idea as there is an element of safety in the house and what could possibly go wrong in front of the TV? The down side to this form of entertaining the children while being able to go about one’s business is the fact that it encourages children to watch spend more time indoors glued to the TV screen.
This encourages children to become more and more anti social and at the same time, they miss out on a lot of healthy activities they could engage in outside with other children their age. According to an article written by Robert Leu, which was published in the 2004 April issue of Medical Journal Paediatrics, cartoons limit social interaction and obstruct the development of a brain’s social system. This is mainly due to the fact that the brain gets accustomed to being inactive as it takes in all that passes before the eyes. He said that this increases the risk of development of ADD in children who watch 4-5 hours of TV daily.
With there being cable networks, such as Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boom, Disney and so on, that specifically target children and show cartoons 24 hours a day, the children can watch TV all day as opposed to local channels that have a specific time slot for cartoons. Our local stations, KTN, KBC, NTV, Citizen and others, have specific time slots, where they air children’s programs, mainly consisting of cartoons. The cartoons are shown in the early mornings and afternoons on weekends and on weekdays, in the afternoons. These programs run for about 2hours, limiting the time the children spend in front of the TV. This is a way to deal with the problem of watching too much TV to the extent of becoming anti social, sadly, there are plenty of good offers by Multi Choice that allow parents to acquire DSTV and therefore have one if not several cable TV channels for kids. In as much as this may be a way of curbing he problem, at the end of the day, it may be futile as in many of the residential areas in Kenya, there are more and more video rental outlets that allow children to rent their favourite cartoons in tape or DVD form. To many adults who are in charge of children, this may seem like an advantage, but at the end of the day, the children spend their entire free time in the house watching TV instead of reading a book or even playing outside.

Cartoons and family values
Strangely enough, many of the popular cartoons do maintain or at least try to encourage different aspects of family values. In some of the more recently introduced cartoons like Juniper Lee, Kim Possible, Lilo and Stitch, American Dragon, there is the element of family and many times the hero of the cartoon or rather the main character (s), has a family that he/ she defends and looks out for.
Family values are one of the positive aspects of cartoons that can be seen in cartoons. In the more modern cartoons, there is usually a father and mother and a sibling or two. This shows a balance in the home as both parents are seen and he ideology of siblings is also shown. In many instances, the characters are seen to do different things that show that they love their family members. There is also the aspect of some sort if sibling rivalry or just a fall out with the parents that is usually solved at the end of the episode of the cartoon. This in itself lets the children know the importance of family and how they should always look out for members of their family as well as their friends.

Ethical Dilemma
How can we fight cruelties portrayed in cartoons when it has become a true part of our society? Should we let cartoons prepare our children for what is in the real world?

After looking at the different messages, themes and ideas that cartoons communicate, it is horrifying to believe that these are the very same issues we deal with on a day to day basis in the real world. There is violence in our homes, pornography in our advertisements, discrimination in our places of employment and schools along with a host of other negative influences.

Can we really sit back and blame cartoons for the influences they have on our children? It is impossible to do so without lying to ourselves. We cannot hide behind the excuse that cartoons are fictional and therefore not a representative of what is going on in the real world. In journalism, what bleeds, leads. In advertising, provocative sells. In public relations, we bend the truth to suite our needs.

Yet, there are very positive messages that are communicated via cartoons. The Rugrats portray brotherly (and sisterly) love, Scooby Doo encourages bravery and curiosity, Cinderella teaches us that we can overcome adversity. What is necessary is for us to identify which is the most important lesson to be learnt and help a child identify it and embody it.

That is not to say that we should let cartoons prepare our children for what is in the real world. In this scenario, we feel that it would be best to apply Aristotle’s Golden mean. It basically states that we should always avoid extremes. It is a middle ground for decision making. We are not to let cartoons be the moral template for our children’s behavior, yet we should also not destroy their childhood not let them not enjoy the magic of wild imagination. A life without imagination is a cynical one.

Conclusion
After all is said and done, parents, elder siblings and care givers who are in constant contact with children are responsible for what these children are exposed to. One may not be able to fully curb what their child is exposed to, but there are measures that can be undertaken to minimise exposure to violence, pornographic material, abusive language, reality and fiction that are portrayed in cartoons. According to www.internetworldstats.com/af/ke.htm, there are approximately 7.9 % of internet users in Kenya or approximately three million users. This percentage includes both home and businesses. If we assume that 2 % of the 7.9 % are homes with children, then we can also assume that these children know how to use and access sites on the internet. There is a vast source of both good and bad information on the internet. In this regard, parents and guardians should be wary of what their children access. Though today’s children may feel that monitoring their internet accounts is an invasion of privacy, it is important to recognise that parents are the adults in the home and setting rules and boundaries to protect their children is part of their job description.

What did children do before the advent of television, the internet, video games and DVDs? They played outside and read books. These activities were once more cherished forms of entertainment than watching cartoons on television. They not only gave children the opportunity to keep fit, but it also allowed them to make friends, stimulate their creative capacity and developed greater social skills.

Cartoons are not the only viewing option for children. In Ethiopia, UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication, IPDC, are training Ethiopian youths to produce animated, quality, educational children’s content to contend with the likes of the internationally acclaimed Ethiopian children’s programme, “Tsehai Loves Learning” (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Communication and Information Resources Journal, 2008).

The Communication Council of Kenya is the media regulating body in Kenya. The CCK plays a critical role in ensuring that there is quality choice in the info-communication through effective licensing and regulation of media content in Kenya. However, this role is relatively new and there are tremendous strides that need to be taken to not only protect the adult consumer but also the child. For instance in the United States of America, an organisation know as Children Now works with Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to ensure there are media policies in place that serve the child and youth audience (www.childrennow.org). The US Congress does therefore not work alone but is held responsible for what is screened on televisions across the US.

In the effort to ensure that children are not exposed to explicit material, parents should be encouraged to sit and watch cartoons with their children. In this regard, any particularly offensive material can be explained and dealt with immediately. It will not only ensure that the child in question will be more informed, but also develop an open and honest relationship with your child.

One definite method of monitoring what sort of content your children are exposed is by personally purchasing their cartoons. You are therefore actively involved in what they watch because you purchase it. Thus if any of the content is unsuitable, you are held accountable to yourself and in essence promoting responsible parenting.

The neo-Kenyan lifestyle involves living in apartment blocks, flats and estates. Each of these residences is furnished with local video and rental outlets that more often than not rent out videos to children who do not have adult supervision. As a concerned parent or guardian, it is important to set rules that will limit the exposure to sensitive material in conjunction with these video rental outlets.

References
Blog.media-freaks.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animation
www.cartoonstock.com/
animatedfilms.suite101.com/…/cartoons_cause_violence
Animation in Kenya comes of age www.bizcommunity.com by Carol Kimutai
www.answers.com/topic/science-fiction

Introduction.

They say pictures have a thousand words. According to Kenneth Kobre, (2004) Photojournalism the professionals’ approach. Photojournalism is a particular form of Journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of views materials or publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, and in some cases to video used in broadcast Journalism or for personal use. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography such as documentary, photography, street photography or celebrity by the qualities of:

• Timelessness: the images have meaning in the context of a recently published record of events.
• Objectivity: the situation implied by the images is a fair and accurate representation of events they depict in both content and torn.
• Narrative: the images combine with other news elements to make facts relatable to the viewer or reader on a cultural level (wikipedia.org)

A photo journalist.

A photojournalist tells stories. A photographer takes pictures of nouns (people, places and things).A photojournalist takes the best of both and looks it into the most powerful medium available-frozen images.

Historical  foundation of photojournalism.

The practice of illustrating news stories with photographs was made possible by printing and photography innovations that occurred between 1880-1897 while newsworthy events were photographed as early as the 1850’s. Printing press could only publish from engravings until the 1880’s. Early news photographs required that photos be re-interpreted by an engraver before they could be published. (Kobre p.p 299) 

Monitoring Ethical Standard.

Photojournalists do not think as a monolithic block when the topics turn to ethics. Since the profession doesn’t provide for a fixed yardstick, a definitive set of guidelines therefore they can use the media law to monitor the thoughts of their fellow journalists and shape their own ethical touchstone.

Besides looking to other professionals, photographers   should also monitor for the reaction of their subjects to gauge shifting values in photojournalism. (MacDougall, 1971p.p120)

Ethical and Legal considerations in photojournalism.

Photojournalist’s works within the same ethical approaches to objectivity that are applied by other journalists. What to shoot, how to frame and how to edit are constant considerations. Often ethical conflicts can be mitigated or enhanced by the actions of a sub-editor or picture editor, who takes control of the images once they have been delivered to the news organization.  The photojournalist often has no control as to how images are ultimately used.( Lawrence Erlbaum, 1991,p.p67)

Grounds for dismissal.

Staging or manipulating pictures can be highly damaging to careers e.g. if in the Daily Nation newspaper, a photographer asks demonstrators to face their placards towards the camera but encouraging them to make threatening gestures of a policeman would be widely regarded as going too far. It is an ethical breach.

Whose responsibility.

In this case, one asks himself or herself as a photojournalist. E.g. Is staging the picture unethical? If so, if they tell their editors they lose credibility and eliminate the feeling of responsibility.

Do readers believe their eyes?

In this case, how often do readers wonder whether what they see in newspapers, magazines and computer screens really took place? Are they able to make a distinction?

When facts conflict with photographs.

This causes disbelief in photojournalism. Should photographers use models and pose them so they look as though they are in real situations? If a reader realizes that, then the belief in all pictures drops when you discover that some images you are seeing are figments in the imagination of photo editors.

When do professionals pose pictures?

 For instance, a photographer covers a ground –breaking ceremony for a new church. Local dignitaries have already the first bit of earth before the photographer arrives. He asks the ceremony be repeated .The dignitaries co-operate and they gets the picture…In a precedent setting study in 1961, Wiloux, then the chairman of the department of journalism at Universty of Carlifornia, Los Angeles, designed a study to determine the attitudes of the readers, photographers and editors towards staging news pictures.

 Moral dilemma of a picture editor.

Once a film has been processed the photographer and editor study images with an impartial eye towards deciding if the photos are too indecent ,obscene or repulsive for publication. Eliminating violence presents readers with a false view of their community and the world.

Sometime our leaders try to mazzle the press in order to suppress information and hide truth for example the KTN raiding by the unknown whereby the raided standard house. However the press can withhold some information and pictures to protect their citizens for example a person who has been attacked by Mungiki and know their hideouts, is being interviewed in NTV then he has the right to be protected and his picture /image censored in order for him to be protected( Kobre ,p.p315-316)

Weighing the impacts.

It applies to photographs that have social messages, shock readers to distraction or have no effects at all. According to Susan Sontago, critic and author on photography .p (316), doubts that strong pictures continue to have impact in our super-saturated media environment. She argues that photographs of human suffering no longer actually move the public any more. She urges that repeated exposure of photographed atrocities habitualises with us to horror, leading us to even the most. (Kobre, 2004, p.p 302 -305)

Ethical Issues in Photojournalism

Among the main issues of photojournalism  are in newspapers, on TV, or on the Internet — are:

• Manipulation of digital images.

Software such as Adobe PhotoShop and its imitators has created a new age of photography. With the click of a mouse you can create a new ‘truth’ by changing, in an instant, the size, shape and color of the image and the distance between objects. Objects can be removed from the image, or inserted into the picture. For example, if you are a hockey photographer, you could add a puck to the scene of a goalmouth scramble — if the real puck was obscured by a player. If you are a travel photographer, you can reduce the distance of the pyramids in your image so they fit the cover page of your magazine. I) Manipulations by Cropping

Cropping out significant elements of a picture in order to produce a misleading image has been used for various motivations by photographers. In Kenya this has been a rare case though (Cook, 1971, p.p234).

II) Computer manipulation.

In national surveys sent to photographers, editors, and educators, as if guided by a single voice, all exclaim the same concern: The most serious threat to the integrity and credibility of photojournalism images is computer manipulation (Brink, 1988,p.p108).

Wedding portrait photographers regularly remove unwanted warts and wrinkles. Advertising art directors customarily combine parts of pictures, change colors, and create fantasy images to attract customers. But people are well aware, and knowingly suspend their belief, when it comes to portrait and advertising photographic images.

 Nowadays with the new technology anyone can manipulate a photo and use the photo shop to manipulate one’s image, whereby one’s image is cropped to onother.This cannot be used in court as evidence. For example the father Kizito’s allegedly case.

• Intrusion into privacy

The development of long-range lens and the demand for attention-grabbing photos combine to make privacy a major ethical issue. When is it legitimate to take pictures of people in private moments? Should photojournalists capture images of politicians, movie stars and other public figures in private spaces? Should photojournalists take shots of families in grief, or victims of tragedy? The public perception of the journalist and of the news media in general, has suffered from unjustified intrusions into privacy. Should one take Raila who is a public image a photo while with his family on a vacation?

 The ethical question is:

1. When is intrusion justified?

• .Covering tragedy and grief.

When injuries occur at a car crash a hotel fire or natural disaster by stander and relatives often block a camera reporter from taking pictures. Understandably this people are upset. According to John L Hultan in his book ‘The messenger motives’ .Photographers have the reputation of being indifferent to the human suffering they frame in their view finders. The ethical theory that would apply here is Judeo-christian-Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Would I want someone to take my photo if I have lost a loved one? If not, then I should not also take someone else’s’ photo when they lose a loved one.

• Respecting privacy at funerals.

Funerals are sad, stressful and emotionally draining. They provide a context for grief a forum for sharing sorrow among family and friends not photographers therefore choice of whether they should be their or not depends with the mourners and editor of the photographer .Most Kenyan photojournalists are not prohibited e.g. prominent leaders such as the Late Kijana Wamalwa.

• Professional versus Good Samaritan

There is always confusion when the journalist acts as a professional journalist and when he/she acts as a responsible citizen. Consider the scenario you as a photographer see an accident by the road side at Thika Road and a child is stuck behind the cars dashboard, cries inconsolably. Do you take the little girls’ picture, or sit and comfort her? Therefore a photojournalist should know that he/she is first and foremost a human being and his primary responsibility is the person needing immediate help. The ethical theory that applies here is the utilitarian which talks about the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Most people would not be comfortable to see you taking the picture of someone who is involved in an accident yet the public or the Red Cross for instance needs your help to ensure that the individuals’ life is saved. You need to apply this theory that offers the greatest good for the greatest number of people like in this particular case, where there is need for balance between good and evil.

Ethical guidelines

Ethical guidelines have begun to address the new problems facing photojournalists. Many editors and responsible news organizations refuse to publish altered photographs. Photos that have been digitally altered are now labeled montages or photo illustrations. The technology of photojournalism may have changed, but its truth-telling essence can still remain.

In the Elements of Journalism, authors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstein wrote that “the purpose of journalism is not defined by technology…for all that the face of journalism has changed; indeed, its purpose has remained remarkably constant.” For photojournalism, this means that journalists need to guide their decisions by the basic principles of journalism — truth-telling, serving the public interest, acting responsibly and being accountable. (Pollack, 1997, pp. 193-194).

 Foundation of ethical decision making theories, that can be applied in photojournalism.

Utilitarianism-photojournalists provide information critical to a democratic society. Photography can show the horrors of war, the tragedy of an accident/the hardships of poverty therefore it is right to take and publish pictures without information in guiding pictures, re- make informed decisions.

Absolutist-taking a picture of the distraught family of a dead child then publishing it might cause others their grief regardless of the benefits is not acceptable.

Judeo-Christian-do unto others as you have them unto you, for example if you are giving  parents in the last example, you might not want your picture taken, but if on the other hand you are trying to save children from drowning and think that running the picture might caution parents. (Kobre, 2004 p.p 299)

Photojournalism Ethics Guidelines

According to the Canadian Association of Journalists Ethics Guidelines:
• Photojournalists are responsible for the integrity of their images. We will not alter images so that they mislead the public.
• We will explain in the photo caption if a photograph has been staged.
• We will label altered images as photo illustrations.
” Journalists should . . . never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.”

Code of ethics on photojournalism.

• Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
• Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
• Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects.
• Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups.
• Recognize and work to avoid presenting one’s own biases in the work.
• Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
• While photographing subjects, do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
• Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images’ content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
• Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.

Conclusion.

According to Sheila Reaves in her article “Re-examining the ethics of the photographic posing.” Editor and photojournalists “produce both a truthful picture and one that demonstrates artistic merit”, and sometimes these two distinctive roles come into conflict. Key to making an ethical decision is to know which professional role is required in a given situation. E.g. if the radio announces a dormitory has just burned down, the photographer is supposed to record and not influence.  No intervention should be needed as the Red Cross brings out the stretcher and the dorm-mates cry.(Edom, 1997, p.p 193-194)

Reference list

Asa Briggs and Peter Burke, A Social History of the Media (Cambridge: Polity, 2002), esp.

Kenneth Kobre.(2004)..photojournalism the professionals approach. Elsevier inc.

Paul Lester. (1991)Photojournalism: An Ethical Approach .New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum,

Philip Patterson and Lee Wilkins: (1998)Media Ethics: Issues and Cases (Boston: McGraw-Hill,)

Jim God bold and Janelle Hart:(2000) “Above the Fold: Balancing Newsworthy Photos with Community Standards”.

Lou Hodges: “Taste in Photojournalism: A Question of Ethics or Aesthetics?”

www.photojournalism.com.

Public Relations

 Public relations is a management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationship between an organization and its publics. This implies that organizational policies and actions should be win- win situation for both the organization and the public. (Lattimore, Baskin, Heiman, et al (2004))

Functions of Governmental Pubic Relations

Governmental public Relations, like any other Public relation Practitioners, seek to achieve mutual understanding between their agencies and publics by following a strategic public relations process. They must gauge public opinion, plan and organize for public relations effectiveness, construct messages for internal and external audiences and measure the effectiveness of the entire process.

The most basic functions of governmental public relations are to help define and achieve government program goals, enhance the government’s responsiveness and service and provide the public with sufficient information to permit self government. The goal of pubic relations officers is to promote cooperation and confidence between citizens and their government. This in turn requires governmental accessibility, accountability, consistency and integrity.(Lattimore, Baskin, Heiman, et al (2004))

Examples of public Relations Firms in Kenya:

a)      Tell-Em Public Relations (EA) Ltd.

b)      Gina Din Corporate Communications Ltd

c)      Ogilvy Public Relations.

d)      Scanad Public Relations

The government of Kenya did not go for any of these and many more firms to act as their spokesperson but rather chose an individual to head the office which is known as the office of public communications but better known as the office of the government spokesperson. His name is Dr. Alfred Mutua and he is Kenya’s first Official Government Spokesperson and Public Communications Secretary (PCS). He was appointed on June 22, 2004 and was tasked with setting up a new office and communication system for the country.
Mutua’s career has been varied. He has been a Journalist and Filmmaker with 14 years experience in both Print and Broadcasting in Kenya, the United States (US), Australia and the United Arab Emirates. (UAE).

A government spokesperson works in the communications department of a government office. Well, to put it the right way, the government spokesperson is the head of the communication department. It is also known as the “Government Spokesperson’s Office” by law. This office is composed of an administrative unit. This administrative unit supports the spokesperson and they have to report to him/her. The employees in the communication department assist the spokesperson with their daily work.

The Office of Public Communications seeks to effectively facilitate communication between the Government of Kenya, its citizens and global audiences, which is according to the official website of the office of the government spokesperson. It further adds that the main thrust is the building of an efficient and proactive Government communication system through research, training and information dissemination for good governance and positive image of Kenya.

The office co-ordinates, plans and executes Government communication while improving the existing network in the Ministries. It is also involved in marketing of Kenya.

The Office enlightens citizens on their rights and responsibilities, at the same time encouraging them to be proud of their country. The Office exploits communication as a tool for development. Through use of various channels, it highlights Kenya’s positions and achievements in a continuous, open basis. This is achieved by employing a close working relationship between the Office, Government departments and other stakeholders.

The Office works closely with the media houses to maintain the sacred respect accorded to the press by Kenyans as a vital fourth Estate. The Government believes that freedom of expression, accountability and an open system are vital for our democratic state. This celebration of free expression and press freedom will continue to be encouraged with clear and well-defined ethical and legal standards. (http://www.communication.go.ke)

Ethical Theory and Ethical Issues

Utilitarianism (John Stuart Mill)

Teaches the greatest good for the greatest number it is a system used in a democracy (rule of the majority with respect for the minority) minority has to sacrifice something of value if it is good for a country as a whole and is divided into two:

a)      Greatest good in a specific case.

b)      Greatest good for the general welfare.

With this premise in mind, we believe that the government in Kenya through the spokesman, Dr. Alfred Mutua, assumes when it does PR for itself it is for the greatest good.

As a government, it goes without question that there needs to be good PR over the country and the workings of every institutions for the purpose of educating and informing the masses but also to ‘sell’ the country abroad.

Nevertheless there emerges serious ethical concerns when it comes to the PR campaigns and more so the office of the government spokesperson in Kenya. Just to give a few facts; Kenya is first and foremost governed by a coalition with the major shareholders being PNU and ODM, led by the president and the prime minister respectively. It is no secret that the ODM side has no love for the government spokesman and Mr. Odinga is on record asking which government exactly does Dr. Mutua speak for. PNU on the other side sees no problem with the man.

The ethical issue here then becomes, is it ethical to have a government spokesman who apparently to the masses and according to half of the government section does not speak for the entire government? If so, is it also ethical for Dr. Mutua to remain in office without the very obvious lack of support and confidence from the ODM side which he also purports to speak on behalf of?

Finally on that part, is it ethical for the coalition government to use taxpayers’ money to pay a civil servant whose real duty in our opinion is not known and if known is not performed well? These are real concerns that up to date have not been addressed and the office that is supposed to perform PR functions for the government is still muddled with a lot of controversies and a public that sees is no more than a stooge for the government.

From the controversial 2007 elections, to the handling of corruption scandals and most recently the Geneva conference with regards to Prof. Alston’s report, it is clear that there is a disconnect and also discontentment with the particular office. As the general public, we are caught up in what seems to be a political fight for supremacy which leaves questioning what to believe and what not to.

Dr. Mutua keeps issuing one controversial statement after the other. Take for instance, last week. The head of the civil service, Ambassador Francis Muthaura was taken ill and admitted at a local hospital. The spokesman issued a statement saying that he was alright and that he would not need any specialized treatment abroad. Lo and behold just a day later, Mr.Muthaura was flown to South Africa for specialized treatment. We do not believe that went particularly well for his office.

Further a field in the USA, it has been reported that Kenya is walking the global market looking for an image maker who will push its interests among foreign governments and international agencies. It has launched a search for a PR and lobby firm to be based in the US, where much of its work will be in Washington and New York.

The ethical questions here include; is it our priority as a country at the moment to hire a firm to improve our image whilst 10 million Kenyans face starvation, the economy is down, a budget deficit of 102 billion and employees facing job cuts every single day. Is it a PR and lobby firm really our priority at the moment or are our priorities misplaced?

The thing that just does not sit well with most Kenyans is that this is seen as an attempt to “paint a pig with lipstick” (the government). Corruption, tribalism, nepotism, incompetence and a police force acting as a death squad are Kenyan realities; instead of trying to paint an image of heavenly and majestic Kenya which is not there by hiring firms, why not simply make it that way.

If the government was committed to reforms, it would have done so but has rather opted to take the easy way out instead of cleaning up its mess and putting its house in order, which is simply not ethical.        

In the year 2006, the Current U.S president, Barack Obama came to Kenya but as a junior senator and without adequate knowledge of Kenyan affairs, that is according to Dr. Alfred Mutua and MR. Rateng Ogego, the Kenyan ambassador to the states. Mr Obama had complained in a speech at the University of Nairobi that corruption and tribalism had reached a crisis point, but Mr Ogego in a letter to the senator retorted that the attack was uninformed and in bad taste.

It is amazing that the current government, which was still in power back then, and a now changed Dr. Mutua state that the Obama presidency is a lifetime opportunity that Kenya intended to cash in on.

The fact of the matter remains that President Obama knows all too well about the Kenyan affair, this government seems to forget that his father suffered corruption and tribalism, realities that still exist in this country. To make matters even worse, in his recent first ever trip to Africa, he did not visit the birthplace of his ancestors but rather sent scathing attacks and calls for urgent reforms in government.

As stated earlier, it does not seem ethical to waste taxpayers’ money on a PR firm in America while those we are trying to convince already have our portfolio in hand. Surely, common sense states that only reforms in the country will bring investors and certainly the U.S president to Kenya. The money should instead be used to build schools and roads. That is certainly the ethical thing to do.

The people of Kenya know that any government needs PR, but at what cost and to which lengths. When we are told that the economy is booming yet thousands of us are getting laid off, it just does not make sense. When Dr. Mutua tells us bout how well the government is working yet we have people calling each other (ngiri’s and fisi’s) in this harmonious government, it is quite disheartening.

Kenyan’s are not fools. The late Bob Marley said in one of his songs that “you can fool some people some time but you cannot fool all the people all the time”. The office of the public communications will only begin to make sense when true change is reflected on the ground, words are words. People will believe you for some time but actions and not words speak the loudest. The office of the spokesman serves an integral role in the development of the nation and should be used for such activities but not to white wash or sugar coat the obvious.

Image is everything but only the right image matters to any government. In the application of utilitarianism, the government assumes that by at times white washing the issues at hand, they bring about the greater good by giving the masses and illusion of peace and stability. This theory in application in this part is hazardous in that the bubble eventually bursts and the people begin to see the light. The government should instead apply an ethical theory like that of Deontology in which the rules determine the result and that everything is based on duty. The duty to tell the people the truth and the moral duty to push the country forward positively.

Application of the Potter Box

Definition of the Problem

The country’s image has been tainted because of the 2007 post-election violence and the country is viewed by many as a hub of tribalists, murderers and

The Values

They include respect for integrity, truthfulness and accountability.

The Principles

Our principles include professionalism, patriotism and morality.

The Loyalties

We are loyal to ourselves, our country, our government and the people of Kenya.

Using the Potter Box, we also use the Golden Mean theory which states we must avoid all extremes and that moral virtue is a middle state determined by practical wisdom. The middle ground for us would be the government issuing statements of truth to the Kenyan public and to the world but being very careful with the wording so as not to cause alarm and panic. It should also work fast and smart at cleaning up the mess by involving mediators and also embarking on genuine reconciliatory measures.

One extreme would be to issue false statements over the state of affairs in the country and to gag every outlet of truth in order to ‘protect’ its image on the ground and abroad. On the other hand, the other extreme would be to issue very alarming statements on that the country is in a total mess, all systems are not working and that Kenya is practically a failed state. That is our assessment.

Conclusion

The Government should work with the media to protect our community values and cultural beliefs that make us who we are. We do not want Kenyans and especially, the professional media practitioners to suffer as a result of low standards by a few who have succumbed to neo-colonialism, cultural imperialism and a foreign image of who we are and how we view ourselves. 

In public relations ethics, there is no right or wrong answer, there are only courageous decisions. In public relations, you need to take every risk you can. We believe that it is unethical for a public relations professional to fear failure. In public relations as in life we need to make courageous decisions, day-in and day-out. Eventually, the government must make the right choice or the right choice will forcefully be made for it.

References

Lattimore, D, O. Baskin, S.T. Heiman, E.L. Toth and J.K Van Leuven. (2004).Public Relations: The profession and the practice. Boston: Mc Graw Hill.

(http://www.communication.go.ke)

www.africannewsonline.blogspot.com

www.marvintumbo.wordpress.com

Christians G. Clifford, Rotzoll B. Kim et al (2005) Media ethics: Cases and moral reasoning. New York: Pearson education, Inc.

www.blogcatalog.com/topic/government+spokesperson

Is it ethical for a Christian to work in Kenya Breweries or in the tobacco companies, BAT? please advise…

Seba.