By Edwin Clarke
As a lecturer of Communications and Journalism, I’m not impressed with the manner and form Journalism is being practiced in our dear Country, Liberia. Journalism, by all dimensions, is done for the good of the society. It is not to mislead and misinform the society, because it is from what we give the very society citizens make critical decisions that affects their lives.
From what I have observed over the years, Journalism in terms of content, critical analysis, fairness, and truthfulness are all lacking in our current Journalism dispensation.
Our profession is no more respected because politicians and people with vested political interests have substantially taken over the media landscape. These people come with their emotions, their sentiments and biases backtracking the essence for which this great profession exists.
What shocks me most are some of our colleagues who we expect to know better. I’m talking about those who sat in the classrooms to learn the basics of Journalism as a career. They are part of the bad apples who are carried away by the political winds forgetting to know they have a moral and ethical obligation to be truthful in their reportage and analyses.
At times, we prioritized more trivial issues in our news contents, in our reportage and analyses failing to accept the fact that we are pacesetters of issues that shapes and directs society.
In our today’s journalism, we have put aside our investigative skills to dig deeper; we have failed to ask the difficult questions to get news out of the news makers; we have failed to conduct thorough research on issues; we have failed to distinguish between what is a rumor, a perception, and an assumption to that of the truth. We confidently run with information on the basis of lies, rumors and perceptions as those in the streets.
Our thinking at times is no different from the ordinary man in the streets. We have not accepted the fact that we are so powerful that whatever we release to the public should be nothing but the truth. We have allowed our political connections to take away our Journalistic patriotism by suppressing the true only because you have been assured of something. Do you know the suppression of the news is an ethical issue by denying thousands of people access to information?
What’s really the cause? Is there something we don’t know that is devaluing our profession? What bothers me most is the era of the present as compared to the past. In the past, I mean the analogy age, Journalism was in-depth, it had strength and authority, it has the power to influence for the good because we had people of immense character who engage the status quo especially knowing fully well their reportage was nothing but the true.
Those days, there were terrors and danger all over the place as compared to today where free speech and freedom of expression is the order of the day. By then, there was nothing call technology, but severe efforts were applied to get the news, unlike today, with all these digital gargets backed by technology, we are yet to experience the beauty of Journalism.
journalism is gradually losing its taste, and we must double up to restore the respect it once had. In my view, today’s technology gives added advantage for Journalists to counter check their information, but it appears that is it making Journalists lazier to dig deeper on issues that collectively affects the society.
Another flimsy excuse for continuous negligence, laziness and gross molestation of the profession is about the media economy. Yes, I do know that the media economy is bad but if you decide to be a journalist and knowing Journalism is about reporting the true, you wouldn’t allow this to lead you to transgressions.
What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that when you report a story especially when it meets the ABC of Journalism you wouldn’t get the support you need to keep you going only because your reportage has exposed an individual or a group of people?
These are basic questions you always here in gatherings of media people. Journalists have allowed themselves to be so close to politicians that they can no longer engage the status quo without fear or favor. This is ABSOLUTELY SAD and even to listen to radio now a days, it has become a problem because contents, fairness and truth telling are no more. What is now overshadowing the media is a replica of the SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST Theory.
My fellow colleagues, I know my piece may not go down well with some of you but let’s face the reality, our profession is messed up and we must muster the courage to uphold its once noted prestige. In the midst of this, I must also admit that there are some striving for credibility, but bulk of our colleagues are the real bad apples undermining your sincere efforts.
Remember, Credibility is a journalist’s most important asset, and accuracy is the best way to protect it.
Let me conclude with this my famous Journalism quote: “When your mother tells you she hasn’t eaten for days, go and check”.
