Michael Ollinga

Background

About Michael Ollinga

I am a passionate journalist, corporate communication practitioner and content strategist who commenced practicing at the Ministry of Information's Kenya News Agency as a volunteer in 2011. I have worked in court as a data entry clerk before transitioning to radio at Fish FM in Eldoret where I rose through the ranks from being an intern to deputy head of news. I worked at Standard Media Group as a Correspondent, Court and Health Reporter and a feature writer covering the North Rift Valley region between September 2013 and March 2018. In April 2018, I joined TUKO.co.ke as a freelance writer before I was absorbed as an in-house writer, promoted to work as a senior digital editor (monitor), led the Current Affair and Local Journalism desk where I was the Head of Department. I currently head the Local Journalism and Special Reports Desk. Runners up Annual Journalism Excellence Award (AJEA) 2022 Health Reporting Digital Category courtesy of publishing this explainer article: I am experienced in writing news and corporate communication copies, editing, developing short term and long term content strategies, team leadership and harnessing social media to achieve journalistic and corporate communication goals. On the sides I work with like-minded media freedom champions to initiate formation of policies to expand the media space, improve quality of journalism and empower journalists to become more efficient in their watchdog role thus able to change lives through their work. I have volunteered with a team from East Africa Journalists Network to push for improved access to information and was part of the team championing for creation of an end to end encrypted communication and working space for journalists.