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Monday, August 13, 2012

ICT Board to digitize Kenya News Agency archives




The Kenya News Agency (KNA), under the stewardship of the Kenya ICT Board will embark on a mass-digitization journey of its audio-visual collection. The digitalization project, which is considered to be the largest in East Africa, will commence later in the month.
Speaking during the launch of the project roadmap on Friday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Dr. Bitange Ndemo said that by digitizing content people would start to create wealth and expand the talent pool in the arts.
Plans are also underway for the Ministry to replicate the same venture to the national broadcaster KBC, he added.
KNA which safeguards over 70,000 photographs (some dating back as early as 1940) as well as archiving 40,000 news articles, 3,000 photographs and 2,000 video clips annually has no choice but to digitize or face extinction, a report stated.   

The report titled, “Digitization of photographs, audio visual and text records at the Kenya News Agency of the Department of Information” recommends that KNA’s records must be stored in a well-organized physical library that meets international-standards with a secure online catalogue for easy retrieval.
The report further recommends, KNA building a platform to allow contributors to submit digital text, audio, video and photos while allowing users to view order and purchase digital copies.  
About KNA
KNA was established on 5th December 1963, shortly after independence and has grown in leaps and bounds to be the biggest news agency in East Africa. The agency spans to 24 bureaus and over 100 provincial, district and division-level information offices. KNA is under the department of Information and Public Communication.
Currently it enjoys a broad subscription from local newspapers, TV, and Radio stations as well as international news agencies.

Credit to Dan Muhuni cio.co.ke

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