The subject matter brings to fore the intricate relationship between the media and society.
It must however be. realized that the mass media are subsystems in a system (society). The pressu position in this regard is that the mass media being products of a system in turn generate input that perpetuates the system. To this end, therefore, DeFluer (1983) has opined that the mass media reflect the socio-economic and socio-cultural conditions within which they operate. Functionally explicated, if a society is perverse, its media. spectrum will be inveigled in dysfunctionality with the media workers generating content within a twisted mental frame.
Basically, there is need to understand the widerlying notion between real and ideal. Though a common place aphorism- in life what we desire and what we get do not always coincide – holds great ideological concern within the foregoing context.
In Nigeria today, it is sickening to digest media content, especially when they border on politics. Even the non-circumspective can perceive, from afar, some underlying affiliations between notable media organizations and political parties. The situation has so degenerated that one can hardly accord credibility to predominant news content.
Ideally a media practitioner should abhor partisanship in political news reporting. Sometimes also, the media practitioner may not naturally set out on the path of partisanship but may be constrained by circumstances to follow the trend. The factors that daily constrain the practitioner may range from ownership impositions embellished in editorial policies as well as other interpersonal factors.
When viewed against the foregoing, a few rhetorical questions may suffice:
“Can a reporter with the Nigeria Television Authority be overtly critical of the ruling party”? “Is it possible for a reporter whose brother is running for a gubernatorial seat not to tilt his report to subliminally suit his brother”?
Invariably, divorcing opinion from political news reports is not just an issue to be glibly talked about. In other words, it requires more than mere lip service.
It must however be realized that the ideal situation must be the welfare and interest of the generality of the people. The imputation is that the practitioner must at all times be guided by the cardinal notions that accord nobility to the media profession. A synthesis of these notions therefore becomes most pertinent.
Viewed from a legal framework, section 22 of the 1999 constitution accords the mass media spectrum the responsibility of “…upholding the fundamental of objectives of statehood and the responsibility and accountability of government to the people”
Noteworthy also is the fact that media ideals are often premised on the moral principle of public interest outweighing, at all times, other sundry interests. Inferred from this, common place reasoning will show that if natural courses are circumvented, disasters often become inevitable consequences:
The underlying scenario may serve to animate our analogy:
Case 1
…If we pervert our noble roles as gate keepers by creating a platform for a wrong candidate to emerge as the Rt. Hon. Speaker of a State House of Assembly, will there be a guarantee for effective and efficient legislation?
Case 2
If we do same and a schizophrenic emerges as governor, definitely, generations, yet unborn will suffer and the offspring of the gatekeepers who perverte4 their roles will also Suffer.
Having seen these scenarios play Out in the negative, there has to be an understanding that what is gained on the bend will eventually be lost on the stretch. The ideal concern however should be on how to use the media profession to build an enduring democracy while laying the foundations for an egalitarian state.
The media practitioner can do this by shunning overt partisanship in the reportage of political events, issues and dogma. Realistically, attaining non-partisanship in reportage is an active process that begins with an act of will-the will to do the needful amidst other exerting considerations. The first step to that ideal state starts now. The beauty of this paper as precursor to that ideal state is therefore preconceived in the foregoing.
The Way Forward
There is need for the practitioner to:
- Adopt the A & B news format in reporting political stories.
- Ensure that the language of media reports reflect fairness and balance — allegations must not be portrayed as facts, charges should not be conveyed as guilt. The fairness doctrine dictates that all sides in a story must be heard.
- Ensure that quoted opinion must of necessity be attributed to a named news source.
- Avoid inappropriate reference to gender, ethnicity, religion, culture, appearance and age.
5 Adopt a sense of balance in profile when selecting interviewees for panel discussions. Post script
Media organizations must develop a checklist for accuracy and fairness, objectivity and impartiality. This no doubt will ensure that media practitioners will, not use the news as a platform to put over their own arguments even when they have strong feelings about the issues under discourse. It will also aid presenters not to give extra time or better coverage to people they align with and less time or worse coverage to those they do not align with.
Since the role of the media practitioner is considered most pertinent in deepening the roots of democracy, concerted efforts must be made with a view to internalizing the cardinal principles that can inevitably enthrone equity and fair play in the political space. This no doubt will accord nobility and integrity to the media profession while ensuring that the society becomes a place for the optimization of human potentials. This is our dream for a post 2015 Nigeria.
END NOTE
DeFleur, M. (1983). Mass media as social systems Boston: Houghton Muffin Company.
By Godwin B. Okon
