Media owners have been blamed and described as “a big threat to ethical journalism” as demonstrated by their one-sided approach to the running of their entities. But come to think of it though, there are some managing directors or publishers who would do just anything to see certain news items blocked from the production process -- be it in print or electronic.
I knew a certain publisher who took pleasure in descending so hard on certain public officials than others. He would ensure that his friends or top economic, social or political heavyweights favored by him, were protected from any form of 'negative' reportage. As a reporter, you dare not report anything investigative about such individuals. If you did, it would die right there in the computer. Mr. Publisher would march into the newsroom during peak production time to filter the news contents; removing any news article that he perceived as a threat to his economic interest. The resultant effect was that no reporter at this media entity was ever interested in probing and unearthing the story beyond the story. It just didn't worth it. The sad news is that these journalists got used to delivering government-friendly information and became accustomed to the self-censorship.
Changing such editorial habits could be a tough challenge. Holding governments and powerful institutions accountable and adopting the methods of investigative journalism are essential tasks every professional journalists must strive to accomplish. It is the duty of the media to develop their watchdog role, respecting ethical principles at all levels.
This reminds me of what Aidan White of the Coalition for Ethical Journalism told me during a 2012 interview held in Tunis, Tunisia. According to Aidan, the concept of ethical journalism can only be effectively enforced if media owners decide to ensure transparency in the operation of their media houses. He frowned bitterly at media owners whom, he believes, are bent on nursing self-censorship by fettering news contents that are critical of government, or other financial heavyweights.
Aidan also frowned at the inability on the part of some media owners to balance the commercial interests of their entities with those of the public [something he believes is a systemic problem] by ensuring that their economic interests don’t stand in the way of the public interest to which they are held accountable. To ensure that quality journalism becomes the hallmark of this profession, media owners must desist from such trend, he stressed.
He said the issue of ethical journalism goes hand-in-hand with good governance. Therefore, as heads of their media houses, media owners sit at the helm of the media pyramid; and until they (media owners) see reason to be transparent in the operation of their entities, the journalists, who are at the bottom of the media pyramid, cannot be pinned down on the ethical front. Aidan said media transparency remains a core value of ethical journalism. But, according to him, it remains incumbent upon media owners to let the public know where they (media owners) get their funding from, as well as the nature of the work behind their publications.
In addition to Aidan's point, I believe strongly that fair wages for journalists [from media owners] will also ensure ethical journalism by helping to protect the integrity of journalists, while protecting them against exploitation by those with the cash power. This will also protect journalist against the commercialization of their reportage, which, I believe kills the credibility of the journalism profession. It is never the responsibility of any government to develop regulatory codes for journalists. Creating an ethical culture in journalism is a balancing act that must happen among different players in the media.
NB: The Coalition for Ethical Journalism is a global campaign promoting good governance and ethical conduct in the media.
No comments:
Post a Comment