Monthly Archives: February 2012

Nairobi Now normally cares about one thing only: posting arts and cultural events that we believe deserve more publicity in Nairobi.
Most event organisers contact us asking to promote an event. Occasionally, we find out about events through other websites, write about them and link to the original source.

You can imagine our disappointment when we found out that the 5 most recent entries on Nairobi Now feature on Eat Out’s mobile website [update: Eat Out no longer uses our content, just see the pictures below] – but without any mention of our blog. In fact, they appear on a page titled “Eat Out on Twitter”. Though it is an honour to be featured so prominently on such a useful service, it is also wrong on many levels. This is what we don’t like:

1. There is no mention of the source, nor of the author of the blog posts. Readers on Eat Out are fooled into believing this is a service provided by Eat Out itself.
2. We were not asked our permission for use of our content. Permission that we would have probably granted, maybe in exchange for some visibility.
3. The arrogance of calling their page Eat Out on Twitter – how about calling it Nairobi Now, for example?
4. It is not a coincidence that this is happening to a blog. Do you think Eat Out would have done the same with arts & entertainment content posted by, for example, Kenya Buzz or Up Nairobi – websites that actually have advertising partnerships with Eat Out?

Here is some evidence collected today, Friday 17th 2012.

You can also compare pictures of the three latest posts published on Nairobi Now and on “Eat Out on Twitter”.
Probably this very post will end up on their page too 🙂

So, the bottom line of this story is: Nairobi Now and all Kenyan blogs deserve to be taken seriously. And to be treated fairly. Behind their posts, there is a lot of creative work. Whether writing a review, editing press releases, selecting what to publish and what not to publish, fact-checking to avoid confusion or adding links to relevant digital media, we add value to the arts world. We certainly do not deserve to have our content be reused by Eat Out – or anyone else – without prior agreement and mention of the actual source.

If you like Nairobi Now, support our work and believe in the power of blogs, share this post, comment with your views and ask Eat Out to use our content fairly from now on – or to stop using it immediately otherwise!

Update: As some of you might have noticed, Eat Out has changed the link in their mobile site, now actually pointing to their twitter account. Someone asked why didn’t we just contact them in private first. The reason is simple: this is not about Nairobi Now – this is about all blogs, easily abused in the digital economy. Thank Eat Out for stopping to steal our content – although we wished you had asked us in the first place, and we would have all benefited.

Second update: We have now had a very positive conversation with Eat Out. We are happy to accept their apologies and to look into ways for us to collaborate. Hopefully this story can teach us how to better engage in partnerships online. Nairobi Now is happy to expand the reach of its content and to increase the visibility of the events we are selecting and promoting. All we ask is to always agree on the modalities for collaboration. For anyone who would like to partner with us, get in touch at nairobinow at gmail dot com.