NMG Announces Rationalization as it Focuses on Digital Model

By Jeremiah WAKAYA| @WakayaKE

Nation Center

The Nation Media Group has today announced plans to rationalize its broadcasting division by merging the existing television and radio stations. In a press release dated 30^th June,2016, the media house took note of the changing trends in the manner in which its products have been consumed saying that the analysis suggested that NMG focuses on digital content in order to secure its current business while at the same time positioning itself for the future.

The media group which is owned by His Highness the Agha Khan has been hard hit by dropping share prices at the Nairobi Stock Exchange since the year 2015 when the share price plamented from Kshs 300/-  to about Kshs 200/- by the end of the year. In 2016 alone,the media house lost significantly up until yesterday when it recovered from its 52 week low of Kshs 130/- to close at Kshs 150/-.

NMG performance at the NSE

Today’s statement however steered clear of the plamenting share prices at the NSE perhaps in a bid to reassure investors of a brighter future ahead.According to the statement, NMG will now rationalize its television brands NTV and QTV into a single multi-lingual television under its flagship brand NTV. Similarly , the group will also be scaling down its Kenyan radio stations Nation FM and Q FM as well as the Rwandan K FM.

In the new digital strategy, the statement intimated that the broadcast divisions will keep an online presence by keeping live signals for its consumers. The statement however regrettably noted that there will be reduction of workforce at the Nation Center as a result of redundancies that will be occasioned by the implementation of the digital strategy that has since taken effect.

NMG Press Release

The company however remained tight-lipped on the fate of its print division consisting of  The Daily Nation and The Business Daily, which has maintained an online presence will at the same time churning out its print editions, despite the imminent reduction in popularity of print newspapers.

In December 2013, the group launched the DN e-paper app in collaboration with Safaricom with Business Daily launching its e-version in June 2014. On the other hand, rival local newspapers such as The People Daily and X News have in addition to their online versions opted to offer free news papers opting to rely on advertising alone as a source of income.

Globally, the changing dynamics occasioned by the rise of online news portals saw UK’s Independent newspaper quit its print publication on 20th March,2016, a move that resulted in 75 journalists being declared redundant. Among reasons cited by The Independent was a need to ensure a “sustainable and profitable future” for the company which had been struggling with heavy losses for years.

 

AJ’s Mohamed Fahmy Compelled to Quit Egyptian Citizenship

#FreeAJStaff

Peter Greste |His family spoke of their happiness at his release from prison

There was a sigh of relief as Peter Greste,one of the three Al Jazeera journalist  of Australian nationality, who had been behind bars for 400 days was freed from prison and deported.However,Peter,who was released on Sunday said he felt “incredible angst” at leaving his colleagues in a Cairo jail reiterating that,”If it’s right for me to be free then it’s right for all of them to be free.”Peter further said that he will not rest until his two colleagues are also released.

Mohamed Fahmy, one of two al-Jazeera journalists still held in Egypt, has renounced his Egyptian citizenship to secure his release,says family spokesperson.

TIMELINE:AJ JOURNALIST DETENTION

‘Drop Nationality or forget about Freedom’

Mohamed Fahmy |Nationality or freedom |I choose freedom

In concerted efforts to secure the release of Mr. Mohamed Fahmy,his fiance and his mother pushed him to relinquish his citizenship after authorities were reported to have gave him a choice between “dropping the nationality or his freedom.”This move has however been termed as a very difficult decision by Mr. Mohamed’s brother,Adel who told reporters that Mohamed is very proud and comes from a patriotic family of high-ranking military and policemen that have defended this country and fought its wars.” Mr. Adel further said that many family members were offended by Mr. Mohamed’s decision to relinquish his citizenship.The BBC quotes John Baird,Canadian Foreign Minister as having said on Monday that Mr. Mohamed release was “imminent”.However,it remain unclear whether a decree issued by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi last November allowing the deportation of foreign prisoners  will apply to Mr. Mohamed’s case as concerns arise about the fact that he is an Egyptian who hold no dual citizenship.

Reporters Without Borders campaign estimates show that there are currently 165 journalists imprisoned around the world, including 15 in Egypt.

Story by Jeremiah Wakaya

Senior Editor

Real Trends Blog

 

Lang’ata Road Primary School Land Wrangle

A tussle ensued at Lang’ata Road Primary School early in the morning as members of the civil society and the public stormed the premises in protest of the grabbing of the public land by a private developer.The land parcel that has come to be known by LR No. 209/12848 is said to have been acquired by Airport View Housing limited legally.The Nairobi County government is said to have approved the erection of a perimeter wall which separated the school from its playground.

The police engaged in running battles for the better part of the morning with the public even as the wall separating the school from its playground was demolished.The police would later unleash teargas canisters indiscriminately to disperse the crowds.Pupils aged between ages 8-14 had been displaying placards were at the receiving end as they sobbed profusely running helplessly to shield themselves from the chocking gas.

Lang’ata Road Primary School Protests

LR No. 209/12848 Land Case At the High Court in Milimani

This happened even as CS Charity Ngilu categorically stated that the disputed land belonged to Lang’ata Road Primary School.The chair of National Lands Commissioned also indicated the the grabbed land belonged to the school.Mr. Swazuri said this even as it emerged that several other public parcels of land were under threat of land grabbing.

Surprisingly,among such pieces of lad,Mr. Swazuri indicated that some belonged to  police stations such as Pangani Police Station.He also stated that most public land has no tittle deed,a problem common with majority of public institutions.

He urged educational institutions to acquire title deeds for their land.The NLC chair further urged Kenyans to be vigilant and report any incidents of public land grabbing.

The circumstances under the land was acquired by Airport View Housing limited remains unclear even as it went to the High Court to seek legal redress against the Nairobi County.It remains to be seen how the whole story will unfold.