This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
Published on July 4, 2019, a job advertisement by the New York Times (NYT) has sparked outrage among Kenyans online.
The newspaper's advert, posted on LinkedIn, sought a suitable candidate to fill the Nairobi bureau chief post, with a job description that included covering 'conflict and unexpected stories of hope' in the region.
However, the job description, which stated that the ideal candidate should enjoy jumping on news, be willing to cover conflict, and also be drawn to investigative stories, annoyed Kenyan social media users.
"The region is a strategically important territory with many vital storylines, including terrorism, the scramble for resources, the global contest with China and the constant push-and-pull of democracy versus authoritarianism," the advertisement read.
Critics argued that the US media was only interested in highlighting negative stories about the region and Africa as opposed to positive ones.
"If you are rearing to apply for this @nytimes Nairobi Bureau chief job you should know what kind of stories New York Times is looking for! The darkness of Africa," tweeted @georgenjoroge_.
"Hard to distinguish this @nytimes ad for a Nairobi Bureau Chief from a call to join a 19th Century expedition with Livingstone & Stanley," said @TravisLAdkins.
