How to get Accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioner in Kenya

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Public relations practitioners are effective communicators who promote positive images of companies to encourage lasting relationships with customers. How to get Accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioner in Kenya . Learn more about the roles and expectations of public relations professionals who sometimes serve as marketers and traditionally are good writers

• Pursuant to sections 4, 6(h), 23(c) and 46 of the Media Council Act no 46 of 2013, the Media Council of Kenya undertakes Annual Accreditation of journalists practicing in Kenya for purposes of compiling and maintaining a register of journalists, media practitioners, media enterprises and media training institutions in Kenya.
• One of its main aims is to improve professionalism among journalists as it ensures that all accredited journalists have the right skills to carry out their duties in a professional manner as accorded to by the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya. It also fulfills the Council’s mandate to compile and maintain a register of journalists, media practitioners, media enterprises and such other related registers.

Public Relations & PR Practitioners

Mark owns a company that sells different types of energy drinks. When Mark first opened his business, he did many different jobs; however, with the ever-growing popularity of energy drinks, the company has grown tremendously, and Mark does not have time to run the company and promote it. He has decided to hire an individual that can present the company to the public through communication and effective imagery.

Public relations is a method of communicating in order to produce a positive relationship between a company and the public. It focuses on bringing the public and a company together in order to display a common understanding or image. Mark needs to hire a public relations practitioner, which is an individual who is hired to fulfill this role. They are responsible for developing and maintaining the relationship between a company and the public.

He has decided to hire an individual that can present the company to the public through communication and effective imagery.

Roles of a Public Relations Practitioner

Public relations practitioners often fulfill many roles. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

One example of a role a public relations practitioner fills is that of a customer liaison. In order to be successful, companies must have public backing. Public relations practitioners must be able to promote a likeable company image and successfully present company objectives to gain the respect and acceptance of the public. Mark’s public relations practitioner must create a positive company image so that the public wants to purchase his energy drinks.

A public relations practitioner may also function as a mediator. The goal of public relations is to create an image and relationship that both parties are happy with by satisfying the needs of all those involved. A company needs the public to appreciate their image and their company so that they gain customers and eventually increase profits. The public needs to trust the companies they do business with so that they keep coming back. Mark must hire someone who will promote the company in a way that brings more sales, but also understands the needs of the public in order to help the company recognize and meet those needs.

Another role might include that of a marketer. Marketing is an important part of creating a positive company image, as well as for generating new customers and satisfying current customers. Mark needs to hire a public relations practitioner that not only effectively markets the company, but also looks for new ways to market the company, to reach an even bigger population of the public. This means utilizing newspapers, radio, television, etc.

Benefits of Accreditation

1. Helps in professionalization in journalism.
2. It helps journalists to access information by allowing participation in conferences, workshops, trainings and other gatherings.
3. It enhances the protection of the rights and privileges of journalists in the performance of their duties.
4. Privacy of Accreditation Information: Once a journalist is accredited, they agree to disclosure of their accreditation status including when they were accredited, the organization they work for and their academic qualification
5. Card Replacement: Lost press cards will only be replaced upon production of a police abstract and letter from the employer stating the loss. The card replacement fee is Ksh 300.

The Accreditation Requirements

• A letter from the employer
• Professional Certificate (ORIGINAL) that is either a Degree of Diploma in Public Relations from a recognised training institution
• Portfolio of work done
• A clear passport size digital photograph
• Accreditation Fees: Ksh 2,000

Here is How to get Accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioner in Kenya

Apply Online

1. An applicant can apply for accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioners online by visiting the Media Council of Kenya (MCK’s) Website and make an application through MCK’s online portal through the following link: Online Accreditation Portal
2. Please visit to the the Media Council of Kenya (MCK’s) Website homepage, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Accreditation Icon to proceed to the accreditation portal.
3. Upon entering the accreditation portal’s homepage, click on the “Journalist” tab and then choose the “Register (New Journalist Only)” option so as to begin your registration process.
4. You will be taken to the next page once you click the “Register (New Journalist Only)” option where you will be asked to provide your personal information, for you to be registered in the portal. This information includes:
   • Email address
   • Full names
   • Gender
   • Date of Birth
   • Phone number
   • Passport photo
   • Password
5. Please provide your valid information and click on the “Submit” button to submit your application. A verification link will be sent to the email address you provided during the registration process.
6. Log in to your email address and click on the verification link. This will lead you to MCS’s Online Accreditation Portal homepage, click on the “Journalist” tab and then choose the “ Login” option so as to begin your accreditation process.
7. Use your email address and password to log into the portal. Here click on the “Membership Request” tab and select the “New Application” Option to apply for accreditation.
8. Once you click on the “New Application” Option, you will be taken to the next page where you have to choose the category of accreditation you want to apply for: i.e.
   • Public Relations Practitioners
9. Fill in the required information and click on the “Submit” button for review.
   • At this point your application status will read as “Pending Approval”.
   • The application approval usually takes a period of two days.
10. Once your application is approved, a confirmation message will be sent to your email address, and your application status will change to “Pending Payment”.
11. Proceed to the make the accreditation payment through Mpesa using the instructions provided in the portal. The Payment instructions will be generated and displayed automatically in the portal.
    • Please do not make any payment before receiving a confirmation massage of approval from MCK asking you to make the payment.
12. Once you have made the payment a pdf copy of your Accreditation Card will be availed in your MCK account, a hard copy of the Press Card can be picked in person from the Council’s Office at Britam Center, Upper-Hill, Nairobi.
    • You will be required to provide proof of identification when collecting the Accreditation Card .

Apply In-Person

1. An applicant can also apply for accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioners in person by visiting the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) offices .The contact information of the MCK offices can be found in the “Office Location & Contact” Section of this page.
2. Here the applicant will be given an Accreditation Application Form to fill and submit. The application form can also downloaded from the MCK’s official website through the following link .
3. Fill in the application form and attach the required documents. A list of the required documents is mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
   • Note: make sure you choose the category of accreditation you want to apply for on the application form: i.e. Specify that you want to apply for accreditation as a Public Relations Practitioner.
4. Submit the completed application form and all the required documents to the Media Council Of Kenya (MCK) Offices and proceed to pay the required fees. Details of the required fees for accreditation are provided in the “Fees” Section of this page.
5. Submit the payment receipt to the MCK Offices for processing of your application to begin.
6. On Completion of this process, the applicant will receive confirmation immediately once all the necessary documents and fees are submitted.
7. Once the accreditation process is completed the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) will contact the applicant to collect the accreditation card in person.
   • Accreditation is usually completed after a period of seven days.
8. The applicant will be required to produce proof of identity while collecting his accreditation card.

MCK Office Locations & Contacts

Media Council of Kenya – Head Office
Address: Ground Floor, Britam Centre,
Mara/Ragati Road Junction,Upper Hill
P.O. Box 43132 00100 Nairobi Kenya
Tel :+254 727 735252, +254 702 558233, +254 702 558234,+254 702 558453
MCK Website
contact details
Accreditation Portal