By MUSYOKA NGUI
As we mark ten years since founding of our digital media house, I thank you, dear reader, for your company and believing in us. Back then, starting off a media house for online audience was frowned upon.
It is the brick and motor media that ruled. Now, facing extinction, traditional media must innovate.
Living up to our founding principles of unprecedented speed in delivering breaking news and features, let me share some insights as the Editor, MWINGI TIMES.
We are proud of MT. Collaboration has been a major driver of our journey thus far. Since production in media is highly segmented, it's good to specialize on your best field and master it.
A story can be broken by a news reporter in the field, researched by a colleague at the news desk and presented by an IT manager through optimizing the digital system. This ensures that every click counts and your data subscription is valued.
When writing a news story, think about the audience first not the editor and/or the competition. The reader's attention is what matters most in news presentation.
If scooping your rival mattered, then accuracy will be sacrificed for bragging rights. The news sources whose side of story was stifled will call lamenting about your work ethics.
The advantage of having the reader in mind is because you will know how to frame your stories. For example, across Kitui county, we sample farmers' products especially livestock sales.
Despite the readers being known for eating Muthokoi and Ndengu, they don't care much about cereal prices than goat prices.
That is because in the recent past, there has been declining farm production due to changing weather patterns and farmers are shifting from crop to animal farming for livelihoods support.
In this case, if you insist on getting them stories about crops and not livestock, then their interactions with you will dwindle. You're lost.
Another big shift those past ten years has been how news is consumed. In the past, we used to wait for prime time to know how the world has been. Seven o'clock news, 9pm at best.
Today's news is consumed on the go. The screen has moved from television to personal computer to smartphone.
There is convergence of all legacy media to the digital space. The radio, newspaper and television are all digital. This means that there is increased demand for quality productions.
Being tech savvy is not a privilege today but a basic survival instinct. At MWINGI TIMES, we understand how important this is and will keep you updated.
Lastly, the small matter of online safety. Being digital exposes users including our readers to malicious attacks from bad actors. Every Tuesday, we run an empowerment program to educate you about staying safe online and making money using digital channels.
Our most valuable assets is our media team we have worked with all these last 10 years. Some started as students, interns and others joined us as veterans. They are now established.
Wherever you are, received our appreciation for your support. MWINGI TIMES is big today because of your invaluable contribution.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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