Sustainable Development Through Youth Involvement in Citizen Journalism

Abstract

According to World Bank Development Indicators, Kenya is among the countries that lead with the highest population of people living below the poverty index. This has been enhanced by the poor economic and development record of the country, particularly the hard economic times that continue to face many nations today as well as the high cost of living. According to Millennium Development Goal number eight, the world has been tasked to eradicate poverty by halving world population living in less than a dollar per day and those who suffer from hunger by the year 2015. The paper is going to be based on a thesis undertaken in one of Nairobi’s biggest slums on how a group of youths are using their talents and skills acquired through in-house training and practicing citizen journalism. The youth in Kenya make up 65% of the population. A big number of these youths are unemployed. This paper seeks to investigate how the youth can involve themselves in citizen journalism to create sustainable development. The research was an ethnographic case study which was carried out using qualitative research method. Purposive sampling was used. Participant observation, interviews and document analysis were used to assess the activities of the journalists. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze data. Further studies recommended include focusing on the role of the media in meeting other MDG goals. The county government in Kenya can also support grassroots community media in order to meet other MDGs.