How It Could Soon Be Harder For Journalists To Get Govt Jobs

Kenyan journalists intending to join communications and Public Relations (PR) positions in government among others could be subjected to tougher requirements before joining the fields, that is, if the Public Relations and Communication Management Bill 2024 is anything to go by.

According to a copy of the Bill obtained by Viral Tea, anyone wishing to practise as a Public Practicing Relations and Communication Management practitioner shall apply for a practising certificate from a Council that will be established under the Institute of Public Relations and Communication Management.

The application shall be made in a manner specified by the Council and be accompanied by the requisite fees.

However, to be issued the practising certificate, an interested individual will have to meet the requirements set by the Council.

Patricia Ndede receives a certificate from the President of PRSK Arik Karani (right) on July 5, 2023. /PHOTO

"The Council shall issue a practicing certificate or renew an existing certificate, if it is satisfied that the person is registered as a Full member; has attained the requisite Continuous Professional Development points for the period specified by the Council; and satisfies such other requirements as the Council may determine," reads the Bill in part.

The Bill further states that a person is deemed to be a public relations and communication practice management practitioner if the person engages in the practice of Public Relations and Communication Management either as an employee or consultant or holds himself out to the public as a person entitled to do so;

Furthermore, the individual is deemed to be a PR and communications practitioner if he or she offers to perform or perform services involving expertise of public relations and communication management certificate.

The Bill is also proposing tough forms of punishment in the form of fines and jail terms for anyone found to be engaging in the PR practice without a valid certificate.

"A person who engages in the practice without a valid practising certificate commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eight (8) months or a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand Kenya shillings (Ksh500,000) or to both," added the Bill.

The regulations, which will be subject to public participation, are aimed towards professionalizing the PR and communications industry in Kenya, which has of late seen a series of entries from the Kenyan media space.

Though the bill will seek to lock out unscrupulous individuals (quacks) from joining the world of PR, there could be a slight worry that journalists willing to venture into that field will be met with tough conditions, among them getting accreditation, which could likely scare a number of them away.

For instance, should the Bill become law, this would bring to an end renowned journalists transitioning into the communications field, as has been the case with big media names being appointed to spearhead the communications departments of government positions.

Read more: Francis Gachuri, Karen Knaust: 7 Journalists Who Quit For Govt Jobs

Furthermore, there could be fears of employers taking advantage of the regulations to demand that those joining their PR divisions have accreditation as a prerequisite.