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Do journalists in Tanzania promote press freedom?
2008-05-04 09:53:15
By Correspondent Francis Xavier Ng`atigwa
Yesterday the world marked the Day of Freedom of the Press with the motto `Freedom of expression, access to information and empowerment of the people.`
Let us reflect on how our journalists and media promote Press Freedom, Freedom of Expression and the Empowerment of the People.
Information is power but that power depends on responsible and ethical journalism which must be expressed under a guaranteed and practiced press freedom and freedom of expression.
It is a practise to discuss the situation of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in the world whenever celebrating the day.
On every occasion, data are given to measure the degree of Press Freedom and its abuses.
In most cases, fingers are pointed to governments as reason behind the unhealthy situation of Press Freedom.
Media owners and journalists have the task of interpreting what Freedom of Expression and the Press mean to the public.
Journalists and media owners have the duty to promote and guarantee Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression by searching for the truth, informing and educating the public, while providing forum for public debates.
Also Media have to portray all social groups accurately, fight for justice and give voice to the voiceless.
Journalists and media have to create confidence, and give power, forum and voice to the public to discuss issues, questions and challenge actions and utterances of government, public or private institutions that oblige responsibility.
To allow this there must be a two way traffic whereby media will not only provide information but take feedbacks from the public. This will monitor the flow of information with its effects.
Media and Journalists must enable the public to participate, to be involved and to enjoy the fruits of independence and decisions.
This has been noted by Prof. Mwesiga Baregu that `the media is in part, elements that empower the people, to arouse their rights and demands to and for development.`
In celebrating World`s Day of Press Freedom apart from blaming the obstacles and sufferings journalists get in implementing their duties, it is an occasion for journalists to ask themselves if they promote press freedom and freedom of expression with their pens.
Do they work for quality and ethical journalism? Do they work for the interests of the public? Are they working on behalf of the public? Do they open doors for freedom of expression?
In short are they promoting Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in their daily journalistic activities?
The government is only supervising the implementation of press freedom and freedom of expression to which journalists are the promoters!
Journalists in Tanzania joined fellow journalists all over the world to celebrate Press Freedom Day. They discussed the situation of Press Freedom.
They tended to make noise to other people, government and media owners as obstacles to Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
Their responsibility is to work for ethical and responsible journalism which will focus on empowering the public to fight against Diseases, Ignorance and Poverty.
But legitimate goals such as, a quest for economic gain, positions in politics or companies, interest of being a good corporate citizen, the concern to your employees, irrelevance excuses and unreasonable loyalty prevent the promotion of Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
Is the current situation dissimilar to that observed by the late Prof. C.S.L. Chachage that in 1980s `journalism (in Tanzania) was characterised by too much self-censorship on the part of editors and journalists, mainly due to the fact that most of them tended to rely on political sanctioning which tended to guarantee some rewards in the form of promotion or other privileges.`
How do they report EPA, Richmond, Buzwagi, and other current hot-debatable issues? Can they sincerely swear that they are promoting Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression?
Can they claim for collective responsibility in their reports about these issues of the public interests?
I doubt most of them are left to be lap dogs and guard dogs instead of being watchdogs!
The cry for Freedom of the Press and Freedom Expression now is coming from the public towards Journalists because they are not serving them.
Journalists are very selective in their reports; they filter information to please politicians and big advertising companies.
Most of them are serving their own interests, the interests of media owners and big advertising companies.
This is against Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression which needs journalists to be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know the truth.
Journalists have to abide to the responsibility of serving the interest of the public.
And to abdicate that responsibility, to put awards or friendships or self-interest or economic gain ahead of public benefit, is unacceptable and unethical.
Currently, the performance of media and journalists leaves a lot to be desired.
The number of Media channels available in Tanzania neither reflect what the public would expect to have as tools for human development nor healthy practice of Freedom of the Press and Expression.
The media content reflects voice of those having voice to the voiceless.
The public is served as consumers and not contributors of news. Media are commercial entities.
The journalists working under commercialised media do not need all these cries for press freedom and freedom of expression because the two are conditioned for the service of the public which they deny.
Journalists claim for Freedom of Expression and of the Press but do not promote them in their daily journalistic activities. We have them, but we do not use them!
Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression are the rights and property of the public and should be granted and used by and for the public.
Due to the abuses in using the freedoms, journalists and media owners have a long way to promise ethical and responsible journalism.
And that is why today I put this question before all journalists and media owners: Do you promote Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Tanzania?
Francis Xavier Ng`atigwa is a lecturer at St Augustine University of Tanzania
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