Citizen Television reporter Victor Kinuthia says he won’t give up despite being ridiculed by social media users on Monday over what a section of them termed as incoherent live reportage.
Kinuthia was outside Murang’a police station, where area MP Ndindi Nyoro had just been arrested over church violence witnessed on Sunday.
A section of social media users termed his report as “sub-standard”, given it was marred by what many perceived as inadequate confidence, unpreparedness and lack of mastery of English press language.
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Several senior journalists, however, took to the social media platforms to defend Kinuthia, observing that live-reporting is never an easy task.
Citizen TV editorial director, Joe Ageyo, was among the senior journalists, who encouraged Victor.
“I have done this for 21 years, and I can tell you that it is not a walk in the park. Victor found himself in a breaking news situation, and gave it his best: this was his first lice report of that kind. He is destined for greatness. I am truly proud of him,” Ageyo said on Twitter.
Citizen TV political editor, Francis Gachuri, said: “I stand with Victor. For a full-time young Inooro TV correspondent to take up the challenge, and try out an English live link on prime TV is courage. He may have faltered, but it was a valuable learning experience and opportunity. He will build on it.”
Citizen TV news anchor, Yvonne Okwara, said: “You won’t be laughing in a few years! Let us cut Victor some slack. We believe in him. He will go places. We will walk with him.”
Another Citizen TV news anchor, Hussein Mohamed, said: “In many professions, you hide your mistakes. In journalism, you broadcast them. So, give Victor a break. It was his first live link in a chaotic scene. He will learn like many of us. Let us revisit this when he makes it in a few years. Inshallah.”
And, now Victor Kinuthia says following the trolls, he “almost gave up” on journalism, “but not anymore”.
“I almost gave up when I found myself trending all over after yester-night’s 9pm news. But, after receiving calls from my bosses, colleagues, friends and fans, I must say I am encouraged. Boy child is rising,” he said on Facebook.