Media Council set to take action against New York Times journalist Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura

Media Council set to take action against New York Times journalist

Mark Mwithaga

January 18, 2019 6:47 PM

Drastic action to be taken

Media Council of Kenya Chief Executive Officer and Secretary David Omwoyo Omwoyo during a past media briefing

The Media Council of Kenya on Friday announced that they are set to revoke the licence of New York Times journalist.

The body issued a statement and pointed out that they would take necessary action against NY Times journalist and incoming East Africa Bureau Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura after the international media house refused to take down the insensitive photos in regards to the Dusit complex terror attack.

Media Council statement of action to be taken Pulse Live Kenya

“We will expeditiously implement the decision of the Ethics and Public Information Committee of the Media Council on this matter.

“Please not under Article 32 and 34 (5) 8 of the MCK Act 2013, you may file your grievance to the Complaints Commission who will have the final say on this matter,” read a part of the statement.

NY Times had issued a response to the warning given by MCK and justified their choice rather than remove photos of the dead bodies.

Director of Photography Meaghan Looram argued that, “Our role as journalists to document the impact of violence in the world, and if we avoid publishing these types of images, we contribute to obscuring the effects of violence and making debates over security and terrorism bloodless,”

MCK issues 24 hour ultimatum

MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary David Omwoyo had on Thursday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the US based media firm to delete the gory image used in the article they ran.