CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRACY; THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA

Democracy is a political philosophy which means ,according to former American president, Abraham Lincoln, the “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. It is a rule by the people , this is when the citizens take part in government either directly or indirectly by choosing a government through free and fair election. In fact, these modern democracies can be described as Representative Democracy.

Democracy is the best form of government and should be proudly promoted and consolidated. But who's duty is to consolidate it? Is it the politicians who can manipulate the electoral process or the Electoral Commission which can also succumb to the politicians pressures and influences or the mass media which can expose both of them.?

“ Democracy… ” Robert M. Hutchins once said “…is the only form of government that is founded on the dignity of man , not dignity of some men , or rich men , or educated men or white men, but of all men”.

Some features of democracy includes (a) free and fair elections, competitive multi party elections, giving the people chance to choose their preferred candidates, free from force and bribes as well as prevention of votes rigging. (b) majority rule and respect for minority right , this means that the majority should not take advantage of its majority Members of Parliament and take policies that will negatively affect the right of the minority , as Abraham Lincoln said “ as I would not be a slave , so I would not be a master. This express my idea of democracy .Whatever differs from this , to extent of the difference, is no democracy”.(c)Rule of law, under a true concept of rule of law , all citizens , irrespective of political , social or religious affiliation have legal equality. There should be no porous, insecure rule of law , independent and non discriminately judicial system.

ROLE OF THE MEDIA. The 1992 republican constitution which is the fundamental law of our land provides certain roles to be played by certain institutions to promote democratic culture in Ghana and media is one of those important institutions. The press is said to be the Fourth Estate of the Realm. Hence the 1992 Republican constitution in Article 162(3) stipulates that “there shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media, and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a license as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for communication or information” .

The above constitutional provision means press freedom. But under section 114 of criminal code , a matter is DEFAMATORY and falls within the criminal libel law. And “ defamatory case “ is if is likely to injure the person in his occupation or if it would expose him/ her to general hatred, contempt and ridicule. Hence any person may or can apply the criminal libel law when exposed to the aforementioned matters.

Secondly, parts of the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), has the following preamble. (a) the GJA code of ethics has been drawn up as a ready reference guide and is applicable to members in the state owned media , the private media and local freelance journalist. (b) As the fourth estate of the realm, the public expect the media to play their watchdog role. They should do this with a high sense of responsibility without injuring on the right of individuals and society in general.

The following articles can also be found in the GJA code of ethics.

(A) social responsibility. (b)professional integrity, that is journalist should not accept bribe or any form of inducement to influence the performance of his / her professional duties (c)respect for privacy and human dignity etc.

Some senior journalist suffered under the previous administrations especially during the PNDC regime , some were jailed without trial. The criminal libel law was repealed by the present administration. (a former minister, who became a chairman of a political party and now a life patron of a party he formed said , it would be over his dead body for the criminal libel law to be repealed.)

In recent times, some media houses and journalist are not doing what is expected of them. They have abandoned their social responsibilities as “watch dogs”. Some of the media houses have become “profit centers”, mostly becoming profit seeking industry.

Some have become government cronyism and uncritical.

Modern media could be abused for propaganda purposes particularly during election periods. Propaganda is a sophisticated art of persuasive communication .

Some of the media houses and journalist are bias, major journalist share certain biases just because the dislike certain personalities in a particular party and because of this they carry their biases into their reporting. Some of them also are affiliated with some political institutions . Media bias can be journalist own personal beliefs which someone referred to as “personal journalism”. This is because some media houses or journalist can simply refuse to give space to competing points of views, they influence, control and set the agenda (agenda setting ).

Two theories of media influence are (I) Agenda setting and (2) News media spin.

Agenda setting, according to Theodore White, in 1972, wrote “the power of the press is a primordial one .It sets the agenda of public discussion , and this sweeping power is unrestrained by any law. It determines what people will talk and think about. An authority in other nations that is reserved for tyrant, priest, parties , and mandarins”. Therefore, it is very important who sets the potential voters agenda , especially during this presidential campaigns .

News media spin {spin doctors }, they do news judgment , they are news arbiters , they try to illustrate by presenting favorable comment about preferred candidates . they also defend their preferred candidates acting as PRO's . Some of them provide favorable coverage to candidates with whom they agree on most issues or intentionally manufacture criticism of candidates with whom they disagree.

Potential voters normally tend to reflect the language , opinions and agenda of journalist who cover political campaigns as well as those who review the newspapers . Some major journalist and media houses (gate keepers) now have an opportunity to exercise much control over the politicians and to some extent the electorates . As Alexis de Tocqueville, in 1848( Democracy in America ) said “ nothing but a newspaper can drop the same thought into a thousand minds at the same time” .

The media can help consolidate our infant democracy by what Mr. Kofi Annan, described as “PREVENTIVE JOURNALSIM” rather than destructive journalism in reference to 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Prevention of inflammatory languages. It is no doubt that interactive radio programmers in themselves achieve democratic participation and thus consolidate it but radio, for instance , has sometimes been used to invent crisis . Most inflammatory languages are spoken and heard during newspapers review as well as radio discussions .Typical examples are when, a Hon. MP boastfully and arrogantly insulted a party's Gen. Sec. of wearing a faded “second hand “ suit. In another instance was when an MP also during a debate on radio angrily said to his opponent “ if you misbehave I will slap you “ . Lastly, is when two Hon. MP's during debate on local FM not only insulted themselves but nearly exchange blows.

The proliferation of media houses and its emergence of ubiquitous listeners who call in (phone in) frequently to express their point of views are allowed to slander and castigate others.

The media should avoid sensationalism in their report, which is referred to as “ yellow journalism” and also avoid what Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye , when giving a lecture at AIJC now AUCC at their 4TH matriculation referred to as “ cocktail journalism”, that is those who have compromised their professional ethics and are only seen at parties and receptions , aligning themselves with politicians and prominent people in society .

The media should rather practice what Prof.. Akinfeleye, termed as “ JOURNALISM OF CONSCIENCE”. By this he meant journalist should be responsible , objective, independent ,accurate, ethical and truthful in their reportage and refuse all forms of inducements.

The media should give equal coverage of political activities to the various parties. In fact the President and for that matter the ruling party has already access to the news .

Therefore my appeal goes to media men and women to learn what the wise monkey said that, not what all the eyes will see or the ears will hear should the mouth say. Let us be the bridge builders. A word to the wise they say is enough.

EDWARD KWEKU ARKHURST,

AUCC, BOX LG 510,

LEGON – ACCRA

[email protected]