[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ation Media Group has realigned the NTV team in fresh changes in its editorial management. The company’s Editor-in-chief Tom Mshindi said the changes are meant to strengthen the teams and improve its products.
While he made a few changes to the newspapers, NTV is the most affected with promotions and redeployment.
Under the changes at NTV, Muraya Kariuki has been promoted to Head of TV News reporting to NTV editor Pamela Asigi). Watson Karuma has been moved from sports desk and appointed as the News Editor, while Sheila Sendeyo becomes News Producer. “This team will lead the content generation and editing and presentation functions to ensure that our bulletins continue to resonate and improve to gain us the ratings NTV deserves,” said Mshindi.
The changes come three weeks after the exit of NTV General Manager Linus Kaikai who is believed to have been forced out by management at the behest of State House for his independent coverage of politics. Last week, Kiswahili news anchor Jamila Mohamed also left for Citizen TV, but her position has yet to be replaced. NTV has been depleted after exits of key team members including Kaikai, Emmanuel Juma and Jamila Mohamed.
The changes have apparently sidestepped vocal news anchor Larry Madowo, who has been on a collision course with the top management. It is not clear whether Madowo’s position of technology editor has been scrapped. Madowo clashed with former CEO Joe Muganda in January after accusing the management of looking the other side as government forces harassed journalists. His FrontRow column in the Daily Nation was consequently terminated, with his fate hanging in the balance. The journalist has edited his social media accounts to remove NMG link and it is believed he is on his way out.
A key feature in the newspaper changes is the return of Eric Obino, who had been sacked in the January retrenchment. Obino, who was then production managing editor, has been appointed Executive Editor for the weekend editions. Obino’s comeback is seen as a slap in the face for Mshindi, who has now tried twice to sack him.
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Below is the full memo to Nation Media Group staff
Dear All,
As we continue to strengthen teams and direct energies to improve the quality of our products and programming, I am happy to announce the following staff announcements:
Eric Obino, the former Head of Production in the converged Production Hub has been appointed the Executive Editor, DN Weekend Editions, effective March 19th 2018. This appointment strengthens the editorial leadership and provides dedicated leadershipto the Saturday and Sunday editions of the DN. Eric will be responsible for achievement of the very high editorial quality standards expected of the NMG platforms, lead the on-going quality improvement plan for the two editions, ensure sufficient differentiation of the products and, energetically support the rollout of the convergence programme that seeks to maximize use of resources across platforms and entrench a mobile-first agenda in newsrooms. He reports into the Editor-in-Chief.
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Ng’ang’a Mbugua and Michael Owuor remain the Saturday and Sunday Nation platform editors, and will report to Eric.
Mutuma Mathiu will remain the Executive Editor, DN Daily Editions (which includes the Taifas).
I am also happy to announce the promotion of Muraya Kariuki to Head of TV News in NTV (reporting to Pamela Asigi), that of Watson Karuma as the News Editor, that of Sheila Sendeyo as a News Producer This team will lead the content generation and editing and presentation functions to ensure that our bulletins continue to resonate and improve to gain us the ratings NTV deserves.
I am also happy to announce the appointment of Warothe Kiiru as the Sports Editor on the converged desk reporting into Elias Makori. The appointments take effect immediately.
Join me on congratulating the three and please accord them the support they need to effectively execute their new roles.
Tom Mshindi
Editor-in-Chief
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