MUTHEE JOSHUA MUCHIRI

MCS-234-028/2012

ADVANCED BROADCAST WRITING

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING

HOW TO USE FIGURES AND STATISTICS IN WRITING AND REPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES:

Statistics and figures can seem to contradict with other figures that people or other sources have.

Statistics can be true but misleading e.g. saying that Kenya has more trees than there were 100 years ago. The exact truth is that there are more man-made trees planted over time than natural forests.

The difference is so because sources have a particular view they want to get across so they cite a statistic that is misleading or false.

Reporters should;

·         Pay special attention to the wording of any statistic.

·         Ask for its source which should be reputable

·         Where possible get a copy of the report to verify its accuracy.

·         When there are conflicting figures note them along with the sources.

·         Get other experts to verify the statistic and answer the Question, What does this mean?

When dealing with poll numbers:

Since it is very easy to mislead with poll numbers, a journalist should;

·         Evaluate survey results with special care i.e. ask questions such as Why was it done? By whom? Who has interest in the outcome?

·         Look at the sort of sample used i.e. the no. of people.  (Reasonable size and biasness.)
      Look at the wording of the questions to evade some dramatic effect.

MUTHEE JOSHUA MUCHIRI

MCS-234-028/2012

SPECIALIZED BROADCAST WRITING

HOW BUSINESS AFFECTS MY LIFE:

The word business is a term used by many people to refer to many things mostly aspects of life that involves transaction of goods or services in various fields. According to me, business can be a way of life or even a hobby that people engage in in order to reap some profits at the end of the day. Business to others is a lifestyle that they engage either for fun or just the fact that they are in it because they earn something from it. Any form of business has lots of impact on the people transacting which can extend from physical gains to even emotional gain to them who do it out of passion and love for it.

Business affects me as an individual in many ways in that almost everywhere I go there is always a transaction going on. People have set up business enterprises that give them wealth which everyone would like to have one day. In the many transactions I make, it builds ones business while on my side I get the product I want. In many instances from the business world, I have got to learn how to interact with people of different calibers with all sorts of ideologies, personalities and lifestyles in a good way. I am not perfect yet when dealing with people but I am work in progress. In the business world, I have come to realize also that it needs dedication and passion for the business one does or else it is prone to fail. Where one lacks dedication to the business venture, the fruits are so minimal or none.

Businesses can grow into multi-million dollar empires, remain average or die off at some point. The success of any business depends on the individual/s running it. Business has opened my eyes to the realization that the fastest way up the ladder of life is through venturing into business. Many people especially the young and elite prefer being employed in great and well re-known companies not thinking of a way of coming up with their own companies that can help them build their own empire.

When I first ventured into business it was not easy and still is not easy now. I got myself some nice perfume in high school which I charged 10 shillings on my colleagues for a spray during school functions and outings. I didn’t earn much since most of them were my friends and talked me into not charging them. While in campus, I bought some men clothing to sell in school but it got hard since I had to joggle within classwork and the business. Shortly the business died since I had little knowledge and wisdom on effective ways of running a business. Through the days, I have been learning a lot of how to handle and manage a business. It comes with its own package of hardships but the benefits override the negatives. I am now more than ever motivated to venture more into business and be a shaker and mover.

 Check out this story share by a friend of mine and tell me what you think...

Kenyan Pharisees.....
Walking in town today around odeon area i saw a group of people gathering and moving menacingly towards a person i couldnt quite see.
I thought it was a thief caught in the act. ordinarilly, I would walk away quickly as the last time i witnessed mob justice left me dizzy and getting sick on the streets. But something kept pulling me towards the scene...
Imagine my shock when I saw the object of the mob's focus was not a thief but two girls- sisters, no more than 20.
One was in a booty short, and the other in a mini dress- the reason for the mob's anger...
The girls were scared n hung on to each other as they tried to outwalk the crowd that was quickly closing in om them from all sides. They were shaking..
They were crying
They were very very scared....
The older one took the hand of the other, her eyes locked with mine as she tried to guide her sibling...
Am a first born, I know what it is like to have someone look up to you for direction when you have no clue where to go- I saw the plea in her eyes, she didnt care about herself, she just wanted to protect her sister...
in their eyes, i saw fear, confusion, panic, shame.
somehow, i knew they would never be the same from today.
you just dont recover from such a thing...
you just dont.....
I tore my eyes away before i could do something stupid....
"Watolewe hizo nguo kama uchi ndio wanataka!!" one of the men screamed- then i took a look at him, and the others, most of them were not just angry that the girls had indecently exposed themselves with the scant dressing.... it was a more carnal motive...
Yes, the lust written on their faces, some almost drooling.....
How wicked, a generation that would strip two girls naked as a punishment for dressing yet go picking prostitutes when darkness falls?
I am a strong believer of decency, so by no means am I condoning the act of indecent dressing but
If any of those men shouting,or women laughing stopped to think-
what such an act does to a person...
It kills their self esteem, self worth, dignity... it traumatizes, leaving scars that will never heal.
In all honesty, it is almost like raping... it kills a part of the person forever......No woman or man should have to go through that....
So next time a mob gathers to undress a 'woman who wants to walk naked', i pray the voice of reason will prevail above the lustful, hypocritical, malicious attitude, enough for the mob to hear the angry voice of He who sees the heart of every man "let he who has no sin cast the first stone"...

Media is this one hub where we get all kind of stuff, news, feature stories, documentaries, history of events that took place long time ago, lives about people; celebrities, interact with friends over the social media, blogs, live streams and much much more. Actually, it seems as if media has taken over our lives because all that is around us is just media....look at a 6th grade student who cant do anything like house chores because he is an addict of computer games. he knows how to operate in the social media and has all sort of friends.
This young child becomes unsocial and only knows how to get social in the internet. Whats worse is that he does dates via the net...think about that husband who comes home late at night tired and exhausted just to find that he has been glued to the internet for approximately 5 hours...that wife who cannot do laundry or do anything in the house but has time to chat with friends over the social media.
What kind of a generation are we raising here?
Where are we headed to with this rush to always be updated and chat with friends?
Will our social lives be replaced by these social hubs that we are subscribed to?

Who will answer all these questions that linger in the minds of many of us?

Who said media aint fun?
Its the best and most fun place to be where yo get to have a one on one with icons such as Lupiter who I will be interviewing her today

a whole touch of awesomeness...who thought?