This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, the Daily Nation published a story about the death of Tecra Wangari Muigai, a daughter of Keroche Breweries owner Tabitha Karanja.
The reporting of Tecra's death fell short of ethical journalism, with the media providing unnecessary details that violated her privacy and dignity.
Unnamed sources were quoted making unsubstantiated claims about Tecra's personal life, including allegations of a lavish lifestyle and a rocky relationship with her boyfriend.
Journalists have a responsibility to respect the dignity and privacy of those affected by tragedy, and to avoid sensationalism and bias in their reporting.
On the same day, the Daily Nation also published a headline that mocked parents of private school students, describing them as 'filthy rich' and their schools as 'fancy.'
The headline conveyed excessive animus and scorn for these parents, and was not reflective of the actual story, which did not contain any such derision.
The use of the phrase 'cry me a river' in the headline was a sarcastic response to parents who were complaining about high fees, and was a classic example of a biased headline.
