ENTRY — 001
Field Notes — Nairobi, Kenya
Support for reporters who work on their own terms.
COLLINS OTIENO OCHIENG offers grounded, practical guidance for independent journalists — from structuring a first draft to setting up a small, durable place to publish. No pressure, no shortcuts, just steady editorial company.
7 yrs
Working with independent reporters
120+
Draft reviews completed
3
Core services, kept deliberately narrow
Why this exists
A second set of eyes, without a newsroom attached.
Many reporters working independently in Kenya do strong work without the structure a newsroom usually provides — an editor to check sourcing, a colleague to read a draft before it goes out. COLLINS OTIENO OCHIENG fills that specific gap: calm, practical, one piece at a time.
- Every recommendation is explained, never simply handed down.
- Sourcing and structure come before style.
- Nothing is rewritten for you without agreement.
What we offer
Three ways to work together
Reporting Foundations Consultation
A guided session on structuring a story and keeping a clear record of your sources.
Learn moreEditorial Review and Draft Feedback
A careful read of your near-finished piece, with written notes on structure and evidence.
Learn morePublishing Setup Support
Practical help choosing a platform and arranging a durable place for your archive.
Learn moreFrom the notebook
Recent writing
Sourcing
14 Aug 2026
Keeping a Traceable Record While Reporting Alone
A practical look at note-keeping habits that hold up under scrutiny later.
Craft
08 Aug 2026
Separating Observation from Interpretation
Why the line between what happened and what it means matters more than it seems.
Publishing
02 Aug 2026
Building a Modest, Lasting Home for Your Work
What a small independent outlet actually needs before its first year is out.
How we work
A few things we hold to
- We work at the pace the material needs, not a deadline we invented.
- Feedback is advisory — the final call is always yours.
- Small, durable choices tend to outlast ambitious ones.
If you're working on something and would value a second read, we're glad to talk it through.
Get in touchIn their words
What reporters say
"The sourcing checklist alone changed how I keep my notes. Simple, but I'd never written it down before."
Wanjiru Kamotho
Freelance reporter, Nakuru
"Feedback was specific and never told me what to think — just where the evidence was thin."
Otieno Barasa
Independent correspondent
"Setting up my small site felt daunting until we broke it into two sessions. Now it just runs."
Achieng Nyaboke
Founder, community bulletin
Common questions
A few things people ask
Reach out