The Media Week Reflections

BY SUSAN ADHIAMBO

The 3^rd eye media week came to a close on Saturday 10^th September on a high note, with a key note speech and interactive session from Michael Njenga. He is a prominent News anchor and Reporter for Citizen TV.

He arrived around ten in the morning, walking confidently into the conference room, with a demeanour that is admirable. He is meticulously dressed in a dark blue suit and a blue shirt. Soon as he is shown to sit his seat, he removes the coat hangs it on the chair and folds back his shirt sleeves- the Obama way.

At this moment I notice some ‘bling’ on his hands; a bracelet or it is still called a bracelet even when it is donned by a man? My male friends who are fashion conscious may confirm this for me. And two big rings, one on his right ring finger and another on his left middle finger and no wedding ring. Don’t give me that look! Ladies wouldn’t you become cognisant too? I won’t give my speculation, just conclude or speculate anything you wish.

The conference room was packed to capacity of course with others taking their place standing against the wall, everyone was anxious to hear what this young, handsome icon was going to say. Even the presentations seemed boring because of the anxiety.

Being one of the presenters of the day, I couldn’t help but notice the audience impatience of when I would finish to give way to the guest speaker whose résumé is impressive. Having attended a University in California and studied Video Production started his career in radio at Metro FM, CLASSIC FM, and also a radio station in Georgia, USA. Then moved to Citizen TV where he is currently a news anchor and a reporter.

It is his turn to speak, and the MC asks us all to rise to honour his presence, his first words, ‘I feel shy because I am not used to being treated in such a manner, please have your seats’. When asked to describe media in three words, he says ‘crazy, crazy, crazy’ then adds ‘interesting, interesting, interesting’. Well with these fascinating opening remarks, we were all ears. He continues giving his speech and chooses a very interesting way to drive his points home, using the principles of an eagle. Another day, maybe I will share with you just how brilliant and graceful the eagle is. Did you know that the eagle flies highest of all the birds in the sky? That it can fly from Kenya to Europe in a storm without stopping? Well that’s a story for another day.

He stresses the fact that you need to choose wisely the people you ‘hang out’ with. Both physically and virtually. ‘Choose people who add value to your life, those who don’t add any value need to go’, he asserts with finality.

What strikes me most is the emphasis he puts on character. He says if you don’t have character you’d not come up to scratch with what you want to pursue, character is what you make of yourself, how you brand yourself whenever you are. It is needed anywhere you go especially in the corporate world. That each and every one of us is unique in their own way, “God made me and threw away the template” are his words. You should therefore take advantage of this to bring out your disposition the best way that you can.

Last words? “Don’t become a liability in the corporate world, be an asset” he repeats this severally with a lot of conviction as if he relates personally with these words. Anyone who attended the event was evidently inspired, having been given the wider picture of the reality of the media world. The ball is in our court therefore to decide how we are going to make the best of ourselves to pursue this challenging but interesting career.

QUOTE: MEN OF WISDOM ARE ADMIRED,OF WEALTH ARE RESPECTED,OF POWER ARE FEARED, BUT MEN OF CHARACTER ARE HONOURED