This is my report card, please send your grading for a full team report

As public editor (PE) who works independently to promote reader confidence and trust in NMG journalism, I hereby present my end-of-the-year progress report. But it can’t be complete without your input or feedback. Therefore, I request you to send me your comments.

My report deals only with five common issues you’ve raised over the years plus, of course, my performance as the PE. But you can add other issues. The issues I’ve listed are not arranged in any order of merit.

Progress reports should shed light on the efforts being made. In your appraisal, candidly point out what you think has been done or not done well or not at all, what issues are untouched and what the PE should focus on.

1. Responding to messages: In 2019, I brought up the issue of editorial non-responsiveness, following complaints from readers that journalists do not respond to messages. Many reputable news organisations have an editorial charter on responding to readers’ queries. NMG doesn’t, but it has made some improvements on how it responds to queries from readers. Today, if you send an email, you will get at least an automated reply. For responsiveness, I’ll give five out of 10.

 2. Hogging letters: Many readers complained in 2015 that a few writers monopolised the Letters to the Editor forum, making it difficult for others to have their views published. Statistics showed that was true. I publicly raised the issue. Almost four years later, I had to revisit the issue after I realised that those who monopolised the forum did so because they were “super writers”, who editors found easier to publish because they needed less editing. So, I adopted the view that since NMG didn’t have a policy limiting the number of letters one can publish in a given period, it would be unfair to deflate them. Today, however, the super writers have almost disappeared. For working such wonders, I give the editor a score of 10 out of 10.

3. Islamophobia: In 2015, following complaints, I ventilated the issue of media misrepresentation of Muslims and Islam. NMG was found guilty of perpetuating the demonisation of Muslims by indiscriminately using such terms as ‘Islamic terrorists’ , ‘jihadists’ and ‘fundamentalists’ adopted from Western news agencies to describe criminals and outlawed groups. The terms are insensitive, judgemental, misleading and offensive to the majority of law-abiding Muslims. Islamophobia has abated, although it keeps popping up once in a while. For this uncertain achievement, I’ll award seven out of 10.

4. Errors: Errors, both grammatical and factual, have been a constant cause for complaints. Unfortunately, there will always be errors because journalists are human. The important thing is that they be minimised and corrected as soon as they are identified.

Readers have played an invaluable role in identifying errors. NMG has a dedicated email address, [email protected], in addition to that of the PE, to which readers can send errors. The Daily Nation has a slot on page 2 for “corrections”. For the effort, I’ll give five out of 10.

 5. Biased reporting: Bias is a common complaint — and rightly so as it can strongly influence what the public know about current events. Aware of this, readers have always been quick to speak out when they think accuracy has been compromised through biased reporting. It is, however, a complex and tricky issue. It can be intentional or unintended and can occur in many ways — in information gathered, events and sources selected for coverage, interpretation of numbers and statistics and so on, and finally in the writing, editing and story placement.

It has been necessary for the PE to help readers in identifying instances of bias and to respond to their complaints and, in the process, help journalists to avoid bias. For this continuing effort, a score of six out of 10.

6. PE’s performance: The PE should entertain from readers every thoughtful criticism of NMG journalism, answer all their questions and concerns and explain to them how journalists operate or should operate. The PE shouldn’t be an apologist for NMG and must be transparent in the way he does his job. I leave the grading of the PE’s efforts to readers.

The Public Editor is an independent news ombudsman who handles readers’ complaints on editorial matters including accuracy and journalistic standards. Email: [email protected]. Call or text 0721989264.