But chicken out

I hate the idea that just because something exists outside of the ‘traditional’ path that it somehow becomes less legitimate or trustworthy. Bloggers are necessary, and at the end of the day journalists who write for any national newspaper are people just like bloggers are.

On the other hand, ppl commenting and debating so often reminds me of KOL & other forums we’ve mentioned here before, but then – true – without interested citizens who contribute to the stories (and who says that news reporters dont get their stories from early bystanders anyways?), maybe there wouldnt be any story and public interest.

And on a very different note: this whole event clearly shows to me that Nairobians are still sensitive enough to show interest in such events, and havent already given up on “yet another horror story”.

Oh, and as for the sms alert: I meant a network of interested citizens who take pictures with their phones while knowing that anything they do may as well influence others. Not just sensationalism..

That bloggers really have a role to play as an information source. There may be a few cases where bloggers misrepresent but overall, I have found the blogosphere to be an alternative news source. Not only do we get timely news coverage, but also photographs. The limitation with mainstream media is that stories have to go through some ’screening’ before they can be released to the masses. A blogger will tend to give his/her point of view, or his/her observation, usually very raw, but ‘as is’. And I think this is what people want, the bare truth, not ‘padded truth’.

On that note, I have been thinking that in the same way that KBW put up a page for bloggers to post comments on the recent KQ plane crash, perhaps the same should happen for any ‘hot topic’ that our country is currently facing. Such as the Mungiki menance, the campaigns, elections etc. I believe this will go along way in sensitizing Kenyans on important national matters, as well as to make our voices heard, towards building our country….

Nekessa – As always there are two sides to every coin. There is a place for a regulated media with editorial control and there is a place for waiting and seeing. My point is that is Kenyan bloggers wait and see hoping for an official statement on all controversial aspects to happen in our country we would pull our hair out. Irresponsibility happens across the board even in the MSM, exhibit A: Fox News.

Osas – perhaps you should write your opinion on this on your blog and link it so we can see what you have to say? Surely you must have more to add on this rather than thinker -v- mental? I refuse to believe that you are so petty minded that you can not see the issues while you focus on the personalities. However if you are that petty minded, stick around, I will school in the art of intellectual debate, an area in which your comment demonstrates you are clearly lacking.

As citizens our role is to continue seeking answers before, like Mungiki, problems that can be dealt with get out of hand!

Also, it’s interesting to see what kind of action it takes (what happened? did a baby meko blow up in a hotel?) to generate this public debate.