Francis Mureithi is an accomplished Digital Media and Fact-checking Professional with over 15 years’ experience working in mainstream media in Kenya. Francis rose from a news reporter to a seasoned Editor and Media Manager. He is passionate and experienced in Solutions Journalism Training with a special focus on amplification of social impact stories.
Francis has completed numerous courses with various organizations and institutions including Financial Times of UK- FT Strategies and Google News Initiative (GNI) for Digital Revenue Launchpad programme, the Code for Africa for Fact-Checking programme, Women in News for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) programme and currently pursuing the Train the Trainers Programme by Solutions Journalism Network (SJN).
He is also a mentor to experienced, mid-career and upcoming journalists and has participated in several mentorship programmes implemented by different organizations. Currently, Francis is working alongside other experienced Media mentors from across the world to mentor young journalists from different media houses in Kenya. This is through a Thomson Reuters Foundation project implemented by the Kenya Editors Guild.
Francis was among the top media and communications professionals engaged by the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) to develop and validate the Family Planning Media Toolkit. He was also contracted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a media regional Trainer to train Kenyan journalists on Safety & Security, Election Technology, Forms and Materials ahead of Kenya 2022 General Election.
Francis was appointed to the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Technical Working Group to develop guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence, Data and Social Media. At the 2023 Kenya Editors Guild Convention, Francis chaired a panel discussion on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Newsrooms.
Francis is passionate about using media to amplify the positive work by individuals and organizations towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He aspires to see a media landscape that recognizes and amplifies solution-oriented stories of individuals, institutions and organizations mostly working with marginalized and neglected populations.
He holds a Master of Arts degree in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media & Communications, Master of Arts Degree in International Conflict Management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Languages & Literary Studies from Moi University.
Francis currently serves as the Kenya Editors Guild’s Executive Council Member in charge of Online.
