Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) has called on Media Houses to assure Journalists of their security before sending them to cover terror attack stories.
KCA Chairman William Oloo cited that Journalists being sent to such places needed to be well protected and if possible be provided with bullet proof vests before they are sent out.
“Media Houses should provide protective gear including bullet proof vests, a helmet among others to their reporters before they go to hostile places,” said Oloo.
Speaking to this Reporter in an interview, Oloo urged that the Houses should also provide insurance cover for their Journalists.
“Journalists’ welfare should be upheld so that risked of being attacked are reduced to the maximum. It is important for Media Houses to understand that their Reporters are also humane and have a breaking point, therefore should not be push too much,” said Oloo.
He also called on the Media Houses to provide trauma counselling services for all the Journalists who have been covering the terror attack stories.
“The State should set up sustainable intervention for such Journalists in Turkana and other conflict prone areas,” added Oloo.