When surfers misunderstand!!

There is always a temptation to ignore comments made by people but for the sake of completing the communication process, I choose to respond.

True, this is a blog, and bearing in mind the blogosphere is a new component in our lives, there is always a chance one may not understand the meaning and intentions of the writer.

But this blog is not any different from the articles that you read in the papers, only that some articles maybe subjective, because they are my opinion, but aren’t all articles subjective? Anyway, that’s discussion for another day.

I am particularly responding to someone who demonstrated a masterly of ignorance when leaving a comment thus “do you ever find male journalists writing about women?” I can only say the writer has not been reading newspapers.

Forget about blog articles, recall the article by Gakiha Weru, then at the Nation, about seven years ago, detailing his experiences in the hands of a witchdoctor??? That article gave some us a preview of what happens in that room. It would be ignorant of anyone to say, “do women write about witchdoctors?” that would be simply myopic.

The role of a journalist is that of a gatekeeper, telling /warning of what is happening. You may wonder whether they have a right to, but that’s the profession, just like lawyers!

Journalists also set the agenda, they determine what you discuss when you sit at the dinner table. Ever wondered why Kenyan eat, think, drink politics? It’s because, everyday, all headlines are about politics!

So do you think journalists are valuable? Bob Mugabe summed it up when he said newspapers are only good for blowing our noses and wiping our bottoms!!!!
I don’t know what he says about internet.

Then there were pieces about my intentions to visit a gay pub in Brazil, so there is this friend who smsed me and told me he can guess what kind of person I am, then I thought, does he think am of loose morals or am gay? I never sought to know because it was clear this guy did not understand the working of a journalist.

Whether you agree or not, the job sends us to various places that many people may not agree with. But people have a right to know, many Kenyans will die without visiting Brazil, it’s only fair if they can read other sides except the football and samba.

It sounds like a long defensive piece but the upshot of it is that, next time I am in Greece, will make sure I visit the sorority house, next time am in Germany, I will get closer to a skin head and know how they think, that is without endangering my life. I don’t want to be a heroine!!

Next month I am in Lisbon, will tell you much of what you don’t see in the National Geographic!!!