CNN has caved in to pressure on Kenyans on Facebook and Twitter and toned down its news headline. Initially, the US-headquartered media house which is known to give prominence to negative news from Africa had used the headline “SECURITY CONCERNS AS OBAMA HEAD TO TERROR HOTBED”.
BEFORE THE BACKLASH
This annoyed Kenyans who took to social media to criticize the global broadcaster for maligning a peaceful country by branding it a hub of terror. A few hours after the criticism, the cables news network changed it to “OBAMA TRIP RAISES SECURITY CONCERNS”.
AFTER THE FURRY
On Twitter the hashtag #SomeoneTell CNN has been trending with all manner of jabs at the media house and humorous snippets about nice things about Kenya.
The Kenyan defenders included leading businessman Chris Kirubi who tweeted “Unless you are the one bringing the terror, we are a hotbed of investment opportunities & great people.”
Kobi Kihara of NTV said “Did you call New York after 9/11 a hotbed for terror? Badly researched ‘puff piece’ by a half rate reporter shameonu.”
Former K24 reporter Caleb Karuga said: “I defend my Motherland because I don’t have another country I can call HOME. Don’t pee on the water I drink. Please.
Someone under the name Siriliciously said: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity,” quoting Martin Luther King.
Leave a comment