Bonney Tunya is a TV anchor with CNBC Africa and contributor to the Forbes Africa magazine. He was previously a business & news anchor at KTN and a rapporteur and content generator for the Picha Mtaani – UNDP project.
He studied Journalism at the USIU-Africa, and is an alumni of the Reuters News Foundation, The Global Short Film Project and the African Media Initiative.
We had a few questions for him and this is what he had to say.
1. Your first phone?
Wow, My first phone was a Siemens A35, I actually inherited it from my sister, I set up some of my first dates on that thing.
2. Between Facebook and Twitter, which one do you prefer? Why?
I use both, but Facebook is a lot vain, twitter is more audience specific, but of late I find both platforms very noisy for my liking, so recently I cleaned up Facebook, unfriending people I didn’t know. Plus my mother is on Facebook.
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Well, I’d still be financial telling stories, though on a global platform, I have been privileged to do this at a continental level, I believe it is upon us to re-write Africa’s narrative.
4. Any question for us? We’ll publish our answer as well.
Do you also find it hard to read long blog posts? I am easily distracted!
The trick is to read when you can concentrate like when you are just chilling in the house, waiting for a meeting to start or stuck in traffic.
5. What would you do if you were president for a day?
I would inspect a gourd of honour, no I would do a state of the nation address and speak from my heart and not scripted, I would identify an official implicated in graft would fire them publicly
6. What’s your favourite book & movie?
Favorite book: Has to be Linchpin by Seth Godin. It challenged my thinking plus its practical. I am also not into motivational books.
Favourite movie: Well I can’t pick one but John Q, is up there as well as Wallstreet, money never sleeps, inside out, Antman. You get the point.
7. Who or what inspired what you do now?
Not a specific person, but I think The Late Komla Dumor did some wonderful journalism, I chase after dreams, there are lots of people I admire in my industry but I chase dreams.
8. If you were to change jobs, what profession would you get into? Why?
Definitely film. I love film and I am a believer in the power of story.
9. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Making things disappear. Things like traffic.
10. Which 5 things would you want to have if you were deserted on an abandoned island?
A solar powered lamp,
a knife,
WiFi,
Flavored tea
The title deed to that island
11. If you were a car, which one would you like to be? Why?
Land Rover discovery 4. Now that is a man’s car!
Discovery 4 Armoured
12. If you could be in any other band in the world, which one would you like to be in? Why?
Maroon 5, there is something about their music that brings life. Yeah Maroon 5.
13. a. What’s the most important life lesson that you’ve picked up from working in media?
Read everything! As a news man it is your job to know so read everything.
b. How can legacy media stay relevant to young people in the face of growth and interest in alternative media?
I think the space is big enough for both to play but mainstream media needs to stop taking their audiences for granted.
14. Share something interesting about yourself with our readers.
Mhh let’s see. Well to start with I was meant to be a Vet surgeon before I changed paths for TV. I suffer serious OCD so I find myself arranging my colleague’s desks at work. I am pretty good at making pancakes as a matter of fact!