As the landscape in media leans more towards digital platforms, journalists are adapting to the trend by connecting their content directly to the audience.
One such journalist is NTV's regional correspondent Bill Otieno who on Friday, July 31, launched his own digital program - Outsource Talk Show to air on Facebook and YouTube platforms.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the broadcast journalist explained that the stories he covered for the media house inspired his pursuit for the show.
"I report from the field and deal with human interest stories and most times it's not enough to address issues comprehensively on a 2-minute segment aired on TV," he stated.
Otieno who is also the founder of Pyramedia Services Company stated that the talk show would offer a platform for residents mostly from the coastal region to hold their leaders accountable on issues that affect them.
"I will bring in leaders who are mandated to offer services to the people and have them explain their successes and failures.
"As a journalist in the region, I have direct contact with the government officials responsible to tackle those issues and locals will get a platform to ask the leaders," he maintained.
The NTV journalist who also doubles up as a content producer stated that he had a line-up of leaders including senators, governors and MPs for the show which he will put out twice a month.
Locals will be able to address the leaders via zoom, and sending comments on the social media platforms.
With the shift in journalism, several popular personalities on mainstream media have quickly found their footing online, building up large audiences with their online shows.
Among various mainstream media personalities who have found success with new online shows during the Covid-19 pandemic are Betty Kyallo, formerly of K24, Jeff Koinange of Citizen TV, Jalang'o formerly of Milele FM and Abel Mutua, a celebrated screenwriter and producer.
Others have taken the route of solutions journalism where they have set up own mdeia houses to address issues beyond the TV headlines. for example Asha Mwilu who founded Debunk Media after quitting Citizen TV.
"Content from international media is refined but it doesn't really represent Kenya and the African continent as a whole. We have so much information competing for our attention daily. Many times we need to break everything down and discover why it matters to us," she told Kenyans.co.ke.
