Report by Leeroy Wuone
Email: leeroywuone02@gmail.com
On Monday 5th, August 2024 in a warm afternoon characterized by cheers and laughter at the lecture theatre in Athi-River campus, outgoing Shine FM and Involvement staff team were awarded for their tireless work in keeping us updated on the news and features happening around the campus and the world at large. They truly worked tireless and selflessly, we all applaud their sacrificial service. Well done team.
As the old team was being awarded and commended for their one-year achievements, the new team for the year 2024 was being handed over. The new team comprise of Samuel Owino who is the news Editor-in-Chief, Nafisa Najma the Nairobi Bureau Chief and Copy Editor, Joshua Ongoro is the new Managing Editor as well as the Review Editor, Anthony Okumu is the Associate Managing Editor, Dido Halake the PR/Marketing Editor, Faith Kiuta Graphics editor, Tracy Kavai the News Editor, Helga Mbodze the Jamvi editor/Online Editor, Richard Omwango the Sports Editor, Esther Wangechi the Features Editor, Janet Wambua the Opinions Editor and last but not least is Benjamin Huegel who takes over as the Photography Editor.
As the new team take over, we are confident that they will be able to deliver more than their previous counterparts. We wish the team the very best of God’s grace and strength.
Mrs. Damaris Kimilu who is the Corporate Affairs and marketing Manager at Daystar University, during the handover ceremony was quoted saying as she commended the outgoing team that, “any Managing Editor in any leading media house and not limited to Kenya media houses would consider you for employment because you have evidence that you were involved in some work while in school”. She continued to add that, “one of the things we do in Corporate Affairs outside of your media platforms is we decided to give captions to our reporters starting with Mr. Hannington Karanja who is the immediate former Nairobi bureau chief as an example”. This decision was welcomed with cheers and loud of applause by the people present.
“When you are writing do not just write for Involvement only, write as well for Corporate Affairs because we will get your captions and also for Daystar connect magazine which is a serious magazine in the University. Writing will take you places because you have documented evidence that you are a reporter and a published reporter for that fact. These are advantages one should take as you step into office and if you do not others in the classroom or students who are not in the media hub are likely to take advantage of these opportunities that Involvement offer”. Opportunity favor’s the prepared, as a writer, it’s a clear indication that we should always be ready and act swiftly to grab the opportunities availed to us.
Writers were further encouraged to work on their timelines and send their edition to Mrs. Jean Murugi’s office desk on time to prevent Corporate Affairs from doing a substandard job. “We give budget oversight on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor to Involvement and Involvement was the first student media product in the university before Shine FM. The reason why the budget line has always run with the Vice-chancellor is basically because of the historical tradition of where media houses really began”, Mrs. Damaris said.
According to Mrs. Damaris, history and understanding the root of something is paramount to understanding its operations,’ by this she went ahead to ask the team as she giggled, whether they knew the history of the media and where it all started in Daystar”.
After a moment of silence as we all waited to hear the genesis of Media in Daystar, Mrs. Damaris Kimilu finally broke the silence and embarked to enlighten us on the history of Involvement and generally media in the University. She mentioned, to our amusement that the current Dean of the School of Communication, Professor Levi Obonyo was an Ex-Editor in Chief while a student at Daystar University many years ago. This was quite encouraging to the team.
She added that, the first Involvement Editor in Chief was a Nigerian that is when it was first called the Drum Beat which was also an initiative of the office of the Vice-Chancellor, the then Principal and students led, meaning the students were writing, editing and publishing together with a small set up that was called Public Relations Office.
Mrs. Kimilu continued, “since he who pays the piper calls the tune, we will look in the eye to see if you are following the policies in terms of the content and the things you are reporting. This is not to muzzle you, but to make sure that certain corporate risks that must be taken into account are adhered to, but we are here to support you. Make sure you go to press on time and kindly let it land on Mrs. Jean Murugi’s desk on time so she can have enough lead time to clear it before forwarding it to me. This will also give me sufficient lead time to also give my feedback on when to proceed to press and print”.
“An extra advantage is working with external service providers like those who print our newspapers. However, it is not easy to find support from leading media houses who have their own printing presses and can print on newsprint a newspaper tabloid that you can be proud of, that is a product that looks similar or close to where you will be working”, she said. A newsprint is a cheap, low-quality absorbent printing paper made from coarse wood pulp and used chiefly for newspapers.
Mrs. Kimilu further advised that Mrs. Jean Murugi will introduce the writers to the printers as well as visit the press and meet with them, she added that transport to go pick our newspapers will be organized.
She added” we should also take note that the print edition has a sibling, the online edition and Mr. Abdul Shaban, who is ex Involvement editor in chief was at the forefront to register its own online domain “. Mr. Shaban was applauded for this pioneering move.
Mrs. Damaris made a plea for Involvement newspaper domain to still be in the school’s main domain despite their independence. “Reason being we have jumped five positions in the webometrics ranking from position sixteen which has been very difficult moving up and currently we are on our way to position ten”, Mrs. Damaris stated.
In conclusion the Corporate Affairs through Mrs. Damaris Kimilu promised to support where they could, be it in the planning of events, outings, whatever it is they willingly promised to support us to achieve the learning and exposure we are looking for.
we are appreciating the support of corporate affairs department through Mrs. Damaris and look forward to working seamless as a team.