Arthur K on “the Media”

The media just celebrated “World Media Day”.

While constitution-makers had originally identified three branches of government, it is now routinely acknowledged that there are four branches, in addition to the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. The fourth branch, far from being the new kid on the block and waiting for its place, is seen as perhaps the most powerful. Their power was recognized by American founding father and former President Thomas Jefferson when he said if it was up to him to have government without the press or the press without government, he would prefer the latter.

Around the world, journalism has stopped wars - like Vietnam.

It has toppled Presidents and governments - like President Nixon.

It has aroused the world against unspeakable evils - like the genocide in Rwanda and the starvation in Ethiopia.

It has made the world a better place.
But there have also been failures - like covering up wars, excusing dictators and shielding the corrupt and the criminal.

So much good but also some bad.
Here in Ghana, the press was crucial in winning our independence — I mean the first one in 1957 and even more important in winning the second one, in 1992 when we restored democracy.

Without stalwarts in the Press, like late Tommy Thompson, Malik Kweku Baako, Alhaji Haruna Atta, Kofi Coomson , Elizabeth Ohene , Adjoa Yeboah-Afari, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo and many others, we would not be where we are today in democracy. They teamed up with fighters for democracy like the late Prof. Adu Boahen, the late John Bilson, the late Obeng Manu, Sam Okudzeto and the greatest generations of students and the British Broadcasting Corporation to drag the PNDC kicking and screaming to the altar of democracy.

Since then, the press has never looked back. While the press has focused mainly on politics, they have focused on other issues s too. Who can forget the investigative bombshells of Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Today, there is no doubt that the Press has been indispensable to the development of our democracy.

It is said that there are faults that so closely attached to genius that it is impossible to have the genius without the vices. Despite the undoubted contributions of the press, there have been - and there still are significant faults.

The very press that has fought so hard for democracy has lent its skills to the perpetuation of some of our most grotesque dictatorships. From Nkrumah to Rawlings, no dictator could have done without the services of their own media impresarios, working round the clock to persuade a gullible nation that our oppressors despite the evidence of our own eyes and lives were truly, truly our liberators. They were there to spin Preventive Detention. They were there to preach the virtues of one-party states. They were there to extol the virtues of “NKABOM ABAN” and to excoriate its opponents. They were there to explain to us why “HAND OVER TO WHOM” was one of the greatest political statements ever uttered on God's earth and the P.N.D.C. was truly defending us even if we knew better.

Today, even as we celebrate our great and famous pressmen and women, we must confront the faults that can turn them from the vanguards of our democracy into those who might vanquish it.

We must honestly discuss their role in the ruining of hard-earned reputations for less than thirty pieces of silver.

We must honestly confront why some in the press will vociferously champion the guilty for the right fee.

We and they must confront the politicization of the press and its overt partisanship.

We must talk candidly about the politicians who corrupt the press for partisan purposes.

How can we make our media live up to the vision of their founding fathers and best standards of their profession?

First, there must be laws and regulations that will strengthen the hand of the Media Commission so that it can enforce professionalism in the profession. We must strengthen it to be effective.

Second, there must be rules about the separation of ownership from the work of journalism by professionals. Too often, we see in stories opinions masquerading as facts. While every newspaper and radio station has a right to its own opinions, none is entitled to its own set of facts. The kind of reportage that we witnessed, from some newspapers and radio stations in the weeks leading to the second round of the elections last December was an outrage to decent standards of journalism. It was that kind of reporting that preceded the genocide in Rwanda and almost took us to civil war last year.

Such conduct must be condemned by all.
Third, our governments must exercise self-restraint. The very political parties that while in opposition decry abuse of incumbency take to the same advantages without any shame when they are in government. A government that works to strengthen the independence of the press will benefit from the stronger press if it finds itself in opposition some day.

Fourth, the media profession must itself develop a higher standard of ethics that will engender some extra-legal imperative to do their best, be the best and to do unto others as they would be done unto.

They must know that it is wrong to destroy a person's hard-earned reputation for money or political differences.

Let them freely confront those in their profession who bring them and their profession into disrepute.

When the inky fraternity celebrates only the best from its ranks and condemns what is wrong, its reputation for integrity will rise.

There are truly monsters waiting to be slayed:
Corrupt officials waiting to be exposed.
Incompetent officials waiting to be unmasked.
Arrogant bureaucrats waiting to be humbled.
Go after them while keeping in mind that he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.

There are those without voice waiting to be given voices by diligent and compassionate journalists:

Those who live by garbage dumps that has never been carted for years.

People who use “free-range” for toilets and will never see a Water Closet in their lives while the leaders they vote for live in opulence.

Children who lack educational opportunities through no fault of their own.

These issues and causes should be your causes and your challenge.

Fifth, we must pay and train our journalists better. As George Orwell once said “Money is at the bottom of everything”. When journalist are paid better and trained better, they will be less susceptible to those whose blandishments bend the profession to their distorted purposes.

Sixth, we the people must reward good principled and ethical journalism and punish, corrupt, mediocre and unethical journalism.

We must shun the tabloids that only spread hatred and damage hard-earned reputations.

We must shun the radio stations that are only interested in fostering confrontation and sowing division - of tribe against tribe and party against party.

Let us all congratulate the fourth branch of government, the inky fraternity and wish them well as they strive to make the world a better place.

Let us move forward, together, to a better Ghana.

Credit: Arthur Kobina Kennedy [E-mail: [email protected]]