James Smart

Mr. James Smart is an experienced journalist, prime-time television anchor, and talk-show host based in Nairobi. He founded K-Youth Media, a nonprofit organisation based in Nairobi that provides media skills and journalism training for youth living in urban slums. 
He assumes the role of Editor-at-Large at Tazama World Media. This Kenyan-based organisation covered stories from low-income neighbourhoods by hiring and training journalists in the same communities. This bold journalism was a first in Kenya; it unearthed unrealised effects experienced in these neighbourhoods, especially when the pandemic hit. It created a feedback loop mechanism that enabled the local governments to discern which areas needed urgent and immediate attention. It made a massive impact to the extent that traditional media. I took note, and they, too, started operating on this scale. He has worked with the BBC to produce its “Focus on Africa” broadcast, a flagship TV news program highlighting stories from across the African continent. He has also worked extensively with Kenya’s leading TV stations, including Kenyan Television Network and Nation Television. Most notably, he successfully launched two of the country’s top television shows, #TheTrend and #KTNLivewire, which integrate social media platforms such as Twitter to enable viewers to engage directly with the hosts of each program. As part of his media work, Mr. Smart has focused on exposing police brutality, corruption, and injustice, and has been committed to telling the Stories of minorities and other disadvantaged groups, including youth. Most recently, he was appointed Group Podcast editor at Nation Media Group, the most extensive media house in East and Central Africa. This role recognises the fast-growing audio media in African audiences, and Mr Smart’s role includes spearheading long-form journalism. In vital thematic areas such as corruption, governance, and politics. James Smart is currently the Managing Editor of Newsroom Productions at NMG, covering. Newspaper, TV, and new media newsroom operations.