Seasoned KTN news Anchor James Smat on Revolutionary media.

James Smat

If there is one man who has a huge gulf between his greatness and his humility, it must be James Smat. No, I did not forget the “r”, it’s James Smat not James Smart. So, James Smat held a candid conversation with the students of MMU Journalism Club on his tribulations and triumphs in the media arena. He oozed media wisdom and his non-conformist traits were well seen and admired.

James Smat is not an ordinary journalist. His kind is not to be found everywhere in the media world. He is a rare breed of journalists who are out there to transform media and society at large and not just present news. In essence, he was called for journalism and he accepted the call from the fourth estate loudly. He is a media revolutionary.

Smat spoke of the need by Media to tell the story of the people. However, when he started off his journalism career, he felt he was here to tell his own story. He told his story, and now he tells the narrative of the people. “All people have a past, a history and a future, they all want to tell their story.” He insisted,”A journalist offers a platform for the people to tell their unique story. Today, the President, the Deputy President  and people from Majengo want me to tell their story” And Smat had his own story. The story of how years ago, after he had graduated from campus; he was working at a Children’s Home. He did a documentary on the kids at the home using a hand-held camera he had bought. Smat then went to KBC to present the documentary to be aired. To cut an interesting story short, Smat managed to convince the producer to air the documentary. He then applied for an “Announcer” position at KBC, and out of 350 applicants he was picked. That was where the ascent began. It began with impetus, hard work, persistence, self belief and some madness.

Smat added that the making of news is a collective responsibility. It involves the cleaners and drivers all the way to the producers and anchors. A journalist is a psychic, my words, not his. “The journalist has to do the stories that people are looking for.” His words, not mine. That is why a journalist is a psychic. “The tricky part is balancing the need to tell the necessary story and making money for the media house. The journalist also struggles with the fact that at some point, he has to escape from cliche news and tell the untold story.” That is what he did with The Trend. or is it #TheTrend?

#TheTrend changed how Kenyans viewed news. His first interview was with the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) C.E.O. This was the interview that had Tweeps (Twitter people) asking questions to the C.E.O. The interview that made him think he would get fired. The interview that had him on the spotlight. The inteview that made Kenya sit up and notice the media revolutionary. Since that first interview, he James Smat has not looked back. He has gone on to KTN and has metamorphosised his style more and more.

On interviews, Smat believes they should not be a mechanical, rehearsed affair. He remembers the first time he had to carry out an interview and he was given one camera he flatly refused to do the interview. He says, he does not believe in having pre-arranged questions sent to the interviewee prior to the interview. He’s a non-conformist, I warned.

“I do not enter awards because I like giving 100% in every interview and news coverage. I do not do this for awards.” That just cements the fact that he is a non-conformist and a media revolutionary. This just tells you why the hall was packed when James Smat came calling on Friday. His presence was felt and appreciated

shying away?

DID YOU KNOW? James Smat is shy. Yes, not all journalists are outgoing as the myth suggests.

By Njagi M’Mwenda