This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
Swaleh Mdoe, a seasoned Citizen TV news anchor, has expressed his frustration with the emphasis on titles in the media industry.
According to reports, Mdoe was demoted earlier this year after refusing to remove a tweet seeking a buyer for his kidney, which he claimed he needed to sell due to financial difficulties.
On Twitter, Mdoe recently shared his thoughts on the matter, stating, “Kenyans are obsessed with BIG titles. Dr, Prof, Eng so-and-so. Senior Editor, Senior Anchor. What seniority is there when we are editing same copy or reading news? Just asking SENIOR media gurus. Labish.”
As a seasoned journalist, Mdoe has also written a book aimed at providing practical lessons to upcoming newscasters on what it takes to succeed in the industry.
In the book, Mdoe advises, “Presenting news is not public speaking. It’s conventional. Read the news as if you are talking to a friend. You should connect with your audience. Treat the viewers at home as your friends because they invite you in their homes to watch you read news every day.”
He also emphasizes the importance of engaging storytelling, saying, “Don’t scare your viewers. Why would you start a story with, “This story is very sad and bizarre”? We don’t want to know about the labour pains, we just want to see the baby.”
