Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 14, 2006 7:23:40 GMT 3
Readers of JUKWAA may remember the recent flurry of comments in response to an IPS story filed by their Nairobi-based correspondent Ms. Joyce Mulama.
A google search gives a pointer as to the depth of Ms. Mulama's extensive journalistic work:
www.google.co.ke/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=%22joyce+mulama%22&btnG=Google+Search
We had reposted that story here on the JUKWAA forum and here is the link to provide some textual context:
jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1135698568
Ironically it is our very own Alexander aka "aeichner" who sparked off a spirited exchange on this matter when he emailed both Dr. Riria and Ms. Joyce Mulama:
Re: Micro-Credit to Stem Violence Against Women?
« Reply #4 on Jan 8, 2006, 7:08am »
I have now received two comments, first by Dr. Riria from KWFT, then by the journalist.
Jennifer Riria did not sound amused (in plainer English, she appears royally pissed off; but I would probably be as well, *if* I had been misrepresented, and the French ambassador in Kenya indeed was, after the EA Standard had ascribed to him the blatant opposite of what he had clearly communicated). Dr. Riria comments:
"Thank you for your concern for developments at KWFT. Journalists have a way of saying everything in the opposite. I emphasized to Joyce Mulama, the need to provide access to financial services to poor men.
KWFT has no current plans to finance men, as they are served through the women that we support. However, a case could be made for a parallel financial services provider that specifically targets low income men.
When people are productive, and poverty is effectively addressed, prevalence of violence may be reduced.
Poverty dehumanizes and this is demonstrated in violence against the vulnerable. This is not to say that access to financial services is the total answer to violence against women.
This journalist missed my name. She refers to me as Mrs. Riria (my late mother), instead of Dr. Riria (my name). This tells a lot about the quality of journalists in this country
Have a prosperous 2006.
DR. JENNIFER N. RIRIA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUST"
Joyce Mulama states that she reported the utterings of Dr. Riria as they were said:
"I acknowledge your comments on this story and I understand your concern. However, as a journalist, I only serve as a conduit for information. Having said that, I'm happy that the story has factored debate, meaning it is highlighting an issue that needs to be addressed. Since you forwarded your concerns to the person who made the remarks, I can only hope that she will respond directly to you.
very warm regards,"[/i][/quote]
Subject: rejoinder
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Fri, January 13, 2006 7:36 pm
To: onyango oloo
Dear Oloo,
Again, this is my rejoinder to Dr Riria's email.
Kindly circulate it to the discussion forum.
regards,
joyce
Note: forwarded message attached.
Subject: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Tue, January 10, 2006 4:57 pm
To: riria@
Cc: aeichener
Dear Dr Riria
Greetings.
I have been privy to the exchange of emails between you and Alexander over the micro-finance story in which I extensively quoted you, as I gave an account of the achievements of your organisation.
Sadly for me though, what could have developed into a healthy debate over your remarks, as ignited by Alexander, has quite unfairly degenerated into a discussion over the quality of my work. That, to me, was uncalled for, and by extension quite demeaning of my profession and of my employer. You should have directly communicated to me, any grievances you had with my story.
Instead, you have shed me in bad light through an extensive network of email exchange, which may have
devastating effects on my career. I consider that quite unfairly damaging.
I have been trying to reach you on phone to put the facts straight , but in vain, hence this email.
I wish to refer you to our web site, particularly the direct link to the story
(http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=31578), in order that you look at the story we published. Your blanket statement that "journalists have a way of saying everything in the opposite" in reference to my story is very demeaning.
I doubt if everything I said about your organisation is the opposite. I would be glad to correct the position if that really is the case.
We are a wire agency, which means that other media houses lift our stories and publish according to their house-styles. I am aware that Kenya Times did just that, and it is them who referred to you as Mrs. Riria, not me, not us. Our style usually is to refer to people by name and their positions, like we did in your case (Jennifer Riria, chief executive of the internationally-known Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT)). We omit academic titles.
Mistakes do sometimes happen when stories are replicated in various media houses that will want to edit and repackage stories to fit their spaces and style. We, as the originators of stories have no control over that. Kindly address the concern over being referred to as "Mrs" instead of "Dr", with the media house that did that. It is unfair to use that to dismiss me as a poor journalist, as you have done in your response to Alexander.
My intention has never been to misrepresent anybody, neither am I unqualified as implied by your statements. Kindly let me know directly, what grievances you may have with our story as published on our site, and we would correct that at our level.
Regards
Joyce Mulama
Correspondent
Inter Press Sevice (IPS)
Subject: Fwd: Re: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Fri, January 13, 2006 7:31 pm
To: onyango oloo
Hi Oloo,
attached is the response from Dr Riria upon receiving my rejoinder to her email.
Kindly circulate it together with my rejoinder to the discussion forum.
regards,
joyce
Note: forwarded message attached.
Subject: Re: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "Joan Wangechi"
Date: Tue, January 10, 2006 6:21 pm
To: "joyce mulama"
Dear Joyce,
Just received your E-mail and noted the contents.
Chapter closed.
Thanks and have a good 2006.
DR. JENNIFER RIRIA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUST[/color]
A google search gives a pointer as to the depth of Ms. Mulama's extensive journalistic work:
www.google.co.ke/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=%22joyce+mulama%22&btnG=Google+Search
We had reposted that story here on the JUKWAA forum and here is the link to provide some textual context:
jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1135698568
Ironically it is our very own Alexander aka "aeichner" who sparked off a spirited exchange on this matter when he emailed both Dr. Riria and Ms. Joyce Mulama:
Re: Micro-Credit to Stem Violence Against Women?
« Reply #4 on Jan 8, 2006, 7:08am »
I have now received two comments, first by Dr. Riria from KWFT, then by the journalist.
Jennifer Riria did not sound amused (in plainer English, she appears royally pissed off; but I would probably be as well, *if* I had been misrepresented, and the French ambassador in Kenya indeed was, after the EA Standard had ascribed to him the blatant opposite of what he had clearly communicated). Dr. Riria comments:
"Thank you for your concern for developments at KWFT. Journalists have a way of saying everything in the opposite. I emphasized to Joyce Mulama, the need to provide access to financial services to poor men.
KWFT has no current plans to finance men, as they are served through the women that we support. However, a case could be made for a parallel financial services provider that specifically targets low income men.
When people are productive, and poverty is effectively addressed, prevalence of violence may be reduced.
Poverty dehumanizes and this is demonstrated in violence against the vulnerable. This is not to say that access to financial services is the total answer to violence against women.
This journalist missed my name. She refers to me as Mrs. Riria (my late mother), instead of Dr. Riria (my name). This tells a lot about the quality of journalists in this country
Have a prosperous 2006.
DR. JENNIFER N. RIRIA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUST"
Joyce Mulama states that she reported the utterings of Dr. Riria as they were said:
"I acknowledge your comments on this story and I understand your concern. However, as a journalist, I only serve as a conduit for information. Having said that, I'm happy that the story has factored debate, meaning it is highlighting an issue that needs to be addressed. Since you forwarded your concerns to the person who made the remarks, I can only hope that she will respond directly to you.
very warm regards,"
Subject: rejoinder
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Fri, January 13, 2006 7:36 pm
To: onyango oloo
Dear Oloo,
Again, this is my rejoinder to Dr Riria's email.
Kindly circulate it to the discussion forum.
regards,
joyce
Note: forwarded message attached.
Subject: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Tue, January 10, 2006 4:57 pm
To: riria@
Cc: aeichener
Dear Dr Riria
Greetings.
I have been privy to the exchange of emails between you and Alexander over the micro-finance story in which I extensively quoted you, as I gave an account of the achievements of your organisation.
Sadly for me though, what could have developed into a healthy debate over your remarks, as ignited by Alexander, has quite unfairly degenerated into a discussion over the quality of my work. That, to me, was uncalled for, and by extension quite demeaning of my profession and of my employer. You should have directly communicated to me, any grievances you had with my story.
Instead, you have shed me in bad light through an extensive network of email exchange, which may have
devastating effects on my career. I consider that quite unfairly damaging.
I have been trying to reach you on phone to put the facts straight , but in vain, hence this email.
I wish to refer you to our web site, particularly the direct link to the story
(http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=31578), in order that you look at the story we published. Your blanket statement that "journalists have a way of saying everything in the opposite" in reference to my story is very demeaning.
I doubt if everything I said about your organisation is the opposite. I would be glad to correct the position if that really is the case.
We are a wire agency, which means that other media houses lift our stories and publish according to their house-styles. I am aware that Kenya Times did just that, and it is them who referred to you as Mrs. Riria, not me, not us. Our style usually is to refer to people by name and their positions, like we did in your case (Jennifer Riria, chief executive of the internationally-known Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT)). We omit academic titles.
Mistakes do sometimes happen when stories are replicated in various media houses that will want to edit and repackage stories to fit their spaces and style. We, as the originators of stories have no control over that. Kindly address the concern over being referred to as "Mrs" instead of "Dr", with the media house that did that. It is unfair to use that to dismiss me as a poor journalist, as you have done in your response to Alexander.
My intention has never been to misrepresent anybody, neither am I unqualified as implied by your statements. Kindly let me know directly, what grievances you may have with our story as published on our site, and we would correct that at our level.
Regards
Joyce Mulama
Correspondent
Inter Press Sevice (IPS)
Subject: Fwd: Re: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "joyce mulama"
Date: Fri, January 13, 2006 7:31 pm
To: onyango oloo
Hi Oloo,
attached is the response from Dr Riria upon receiving my rejoinder to her email.
Kindly circulate it together with my rejoinder to the discussion forum.
regards,
joyce
Note: forwarded message attached.
Subject: Re: concerns about your remarks on the micro-credit story
From: "Joan Wangechi"
Date: Tue, January 10, 2006 6:21 pm
To: "joyce mulama"
Dear Joyce,
Just received your E-mail and noted the contents.
Chapter closed.
Thanks and have a good 2006.
DR. JENNIFER RIRIA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUST[/color]