Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
The media are watchdogs and not blood hounds… On World Press Freedom Day, let the government and the public resolve to uphold press freedom and support the democratic ideals for which the press stands as the fourth estate.
‘Free the press’ is a popular refrain that gets louder by the day without losing its relevance. The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press. It is a day when the governments and the public at large is once again reminded of their duty to respect, uphold and participate in the right to ‘freedom of expression’ in supporting the press in disseminating knowledge and news. The right to freedom of expression demands a sense of social as well as a moral responsibility towards the promotion of a democratic society.
Highlighting the importance of the ‘press freedom’, today, it is not only contentious but has become even more pronounced and is marked by deep and profound cynicism on the issue and the questions concerning free press continues to be up for discussion. The right and responsibility that comes with press freedom demands of them to be objective, fair, honest and courageous in the process of disseminating knowledge and information. With the evolving meaning of ‘news’ and information, firstly, the presence of a viable media system where the press can freely express becomes a necessary condition in bringing out opinions, perspectives, and more so ‘truth.’ Secondly, for press freedom to function effectively, it needs the support of both the government and the general public in disseminating the ‘truth.’
In the evolution of contested views, ideals and competing interests, any attempt to hijack democracy through restriction or compulsion from any kind of powers that be on the press, or the ‘dreaded silencing’ only curtails its ‘rights’ and independent functioning. Many a time, the press can be constrained through external control to ‘prioritise’ and forced to publish articles and news items which go against their principles and integrity and also contrary to the spirit of the ‘fourth estate’ and thereby disown responsibility. Within such constrained prioritization of either space or killing news that are deemed newsworthy, the public may feel betrayed through news that is irrelevant.
The Barriers
In the evolution of ‘news’, knowledge and information and where the processing of news and its flow defines our times, the media especially the press is still grappling with the question of ‘what news ought to be.’ Handling of news items in coherence with the demands of the situations with responsibility of reporting; besides many other pressing concerns comes into play in the making of news, knowledge and information.
In the context of our state, currently there is a tension going on between social media and the print media where the former seems to have taken primacy over the latter, somehow randomly redefining what news ‘ought’ to be. Based on the degree, intensity and immediacy of the issues generated through social media networks, certain parameters are set about the nature of news and information. Besides, popular perceptions are generated by putting electronic media and print media together. These are two totally different news templates. Electronic media like the National television news channels especially prime time high decibel discussion cannot and should not be compared with the state newspaper.
Generalization and defining news that comes from different mediums can also compound the demand for investigative journalism besides the call of redefinition of news based on such parameters. No doubt, investigative journalism has still a long way to go in our state. There has been a call for investigative journalism from certain sections of the public. As much as the newspapers would want to engage in such form of journalism, our local newspapers have often been pitted, on one hand, within the constraints of issues relating to ‘defamation’ and the right of the public to be informed on the other. Truth also becomes forbidden as a defense in defamation cases where someone’s reputation or those of ‘powerful agents’ is deemed worthier of protection at the expense of the right of the public to be informed. It not only creates fear but discourages investigative reporting and a chance at exposing corruption. Without the support and critical engagement from the public, the media is bound to end up being victimized. On another instance, local newspapers were compelled to come out with blank editorials for curtailment of freedom of expression. The press should be free from any ‘external control’ or ‘interference’ or should not be conditioned by ‘societal norms’ and popular perceptions in enabling freedom to express the ‘truth’ of the matter without any fear. In the absence of a free press, values like truth, honesty, justice rather than being delivered are bound to be sacrificed at the altar of social mores and underpinnings.
Thus, for investigative journalism to happen, active support and participation from the government as well as the public becomes a paramount necessity because the media are just watchdogs and not blood hounds. And in a sensitive environment like ours where ‘truth’ mostly finds itself sacrificed at the altar of silencing, our local newspapers may find itself at the receiving end of being victimized for lack of support. This is a very serious issue that requires due warrant if at all investigative journalism is to become a reality. So long as there is no support and participation from the government and the public, what is ‘newsworthy’ will remain ‘unsayable.’ Take the case of Mexico, where journalists face a violent, often deadly reception. The wider effects are devastating. “A climate of fear grows and it becomes better to remain silent than speak out about events that may pose a threat” says journalist and writer Anabel Hernandez. This definitely leads to self-censorship, thereby affects freedom of expression besides the quality and depth of information. It is of paramount importance that the society is made to see and understand the reality.
For the public especially, news, knowledge and information first need to be put in its proper perspective within the context and support the media by reacting critically to news items in shaping a democratically viable environment. Often the press may take a ‘tacit’ approach for the public to react and push forward issues in even changing the general perception of the news so also the challenging task of bringing out the ‘truth’ to the public without any fear or constraints. Promotion of democratic ideals is a shared responsibility and that a free press should stay as a vital conduit for free expression.
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor with Heritage Publishing House. He writes a weekly guest editorial for the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
