Published on January 2, 2009
As a country, we have never been this road before! As journalists, we have never been this road before! Never has this country felt this level of intense fear in a democratic era, in a civilian administration and in a time when we have an extraordinarily high level of press freedom. During our almost 52 years of independence, we have had periods of fear during the many coup d’états, during the life span of military regimes, and in a civilian administration devoid of press freedom. But the current fear in democracy and press freedom is a definite first.
The current information environment in the country is tantamount to a psychological warfare. Fear is debilitating. We now live in a state of panic with an overcast of gloom. Journalists can fan the flames or can calm the waters. Already, there are ongoing media wars between opposing political party ideologies. It is easy to identify certain media as leaning toward certain political camps. Even if only a few media institutions and journalists are being irresponsible, there is the tendency to lump all media and journalists together as failing this country.
But the media is so powerful, beyond measure. Through the effective use of persuasive words and images, the media can have access into people’s minds and hearts and even guide them to form opinions and take decisions. With such power and privilege comes the responsibility to be reflective at different phases of journalistic practice. The phases include the choice of subject matter one covers, data gathering methods used, the human and documentary sources one relies on for information, as well as the actual packaging of material be it in writing or placement on radio and television. The journalist has a choice.
Newspapers have inbuilt editing mechanisms. The electronic media, especially the more pervasive FM radio stations, are however instant and pose the greatest danger to entrench fear in our society. Not surprisingly, in the past few days, the electronic media has come under criticisms for inflaming passions.
If a journalist or media practitioner – including presenters, producers and editors –ignores the very important thinking and reflective aspects of his or her work, a journalist becomes nothing but a dangerous person with a mighty pen in hand. For radio and television, a non-reflective and irresponsible journalist is a dangerous person with a microphone in hand sitting in front of a camera. Such a dangerous person can infect media consumers with negativity.
Of all professions, journalists should be the conscience of society. They have a responsibility to ask the tough questions which the ordinary person might wish to ask, might not have the courage to ask, or does not have access to the right sources to pose such questions. In that respect, the journalist becomes the ears and eyes of a population. In a country with low levels of literacy, and in these trying times when the selection of a president is on a cliff hanger with the attendant fear in society, the media’s responsible role has become even more critical.
The media cannot and should not lose guard of its watchdog role. It is not for nothing that some homes have a gatekeeper and a watchdog to keep all things untoward that can disturb the peace of the home from entering through the gates. Journalists must therefore keep the gates of our society safe by sifting through media content and allow only that which is wholesome to get into the minds and hearts of society.
Without being mindful and reflective, journalists can make fatal errors in thinking which can result in fatal errors in their conclusions. But worst of all, a journalist can spew fatal information into the public sphere with fatal consequences. In the past few days, songs are increasingly being used by some FM stations as tools to incite and deepen the fear. A song can even be more potent that talk, and playing specific songs on radio can communicate war-like messages.
Press freedom has not only benefited journalists. With the opening up of the air waves, the public at large enjoys the privilege of making calls and sending text messages to FM stations to express their opinions. We therefore have a free-for-all air waves with potential to be misused and abused. The free-for-all media regime can be used as a tool for good or bad. It can serve as balm to heal wounds and provide a bridge over troubled waters. Or, it can become a torch to light already inflamed passions.
Ours is a fledgling democracy. A school of thought that was thought to have the stature of truth is undergoing a major test. It is that Ghana cannot descend into chaos like has happened in other African countries. But now we know that we too have deep fault-lines with the potential to go down an ugly path if certain stops are not placed in the proper flash points.
The mass media is one of such flashpoints. As gatekeepers of society, it is time for the media to keep a calm head and do the right thing for Ghana. Excesses must be checked, parochial interests must be subdued at all cost with the interest and survival of Ghana as the main agenda and the guiding principle. A responsible mass media can contribute in successfully steering our beloved country out of this quagmire.
This is also the time for media people to burry any strong leanings toward political parties because it tends to cloud their judgement. Ideally, media personnel must maintain political neutrality. This is no time to be an NDC journalist or an NPP journalist. Indeed, it’s never right for a journalist to be locked up in the arms of a political party. An embedded posture is corrupting and takes away from objectivity and it does not help in the advancement of the profession.
It is also unacceptable for the media to simply become parrots to regurgitate anything a political source gives. By so doing, we perpetuate the dissemination of falsehood and rumours which in turn put more fear into the populace. We should realise that politicians have a clear agenda – to win an election and would use the media as pawns to satisfy their desires.
Our immediate concerns therefore should be how to use journalism safely to ferry our beloved country through these trying times. If you care enough about someone you love, you avoid doing and saying things that will hurt that person. As journalists, our country needs us the most now to show care and love.
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