Nigeria: The Media And Reporting Of Conflicts

Recent events in the country have prompted me to publish this piece I originally authored for a youth conference in 2008 in Abuja that did not hold. I feel it is pertinent to draw the attention of media professionals to the dangerous trend and dimension media coverage of the Jos crises have assumed.

It is obvious that certain sections of the media have taken sides in reporting of events in the recurring crises on the Plateau, and this has the capacity to cause more harm than good.

 

The terrain in which the media operate is very complex and journalists must appreciate their roles in society, particularly in promoting public enlightenment and education, especially as they relate to democracy and development.

While many argue that the function of the media is to inform the society about the political process, educate citizens about their rights and obligations and responsibilities in a democracy, others see the media merely as business concerns owned by business empires that are equally engaged in other businesses very much unrelated to the media. Others on the other hand argue that beyond being mere business enterprises for profit making, the media also play crucial roles in the distribution of power, and that ideological functions which are crucial in the struggle for power, shape what the media subsequently do.

Causes of Conflict

Various experts and groups have given their views on reasons the conflicts occur, prominent among which are:

• Loss of political space for opposition, civil society and the media to engage in public discourse. We have seen examples in Zimbabwe, Kenya and other parts of Africa.

• Social, economic and political exclusion of certain groups from development. Various examples abound across the ECOWAS sub-region.

• Unemployment. The various armies of youth that roam the cities in the Continent of Africa in search of employment are a dangerous trend that must be immediately curtailed.

• Distorted distributional effects of development and increasing horizontal inequalities.

• Human rights violations. We have seen what is happening in Darfur and other flash points in Africa.

• Increased insecurity and perceived threats.

• Migratory flows, both internal and external for economic and political reasons.

In summary, absence of good governance is one of the main causes of conflicts in Africa. Good governance implies ruling on the basis of equity and social justice, an end to corruption and nepotism and manipulation of political institutions. Until citizens have the belief that government operates on their behalf, in an open and accountable manner, it is then that government will be able to obtain their willing cooperation, in mobilising resources for development.

Peace Building/Conflict Prevention

An independent study prepared for the Emergency Response Division, UNDP by Bernard Wood, President, Bernard Wood and Associates Limited, Ottawa, Canada, June 2001, describes conflict prevention and peace building to basically refer to very similar, if not identical actions and processes, but they have often been used to refer to different contexts.

Conventional UN usage around which a great deal of analysis and legislation is being already built, saw peace building in strictly actions usually following on from a UN peacekeeping operation, that might help to reduce the risks of renewed major violent conflict in a society that has undergone such conflict in the relatively recent past.

Conflict prevention on the other hand refers to purely preventive, anticipatory actions and process that can help reduce the risks of major violent conflict in a society that has not undergone such conflict in the relatively recent past.

According to UN Millennium Report of the Secretary General, New York, 2000, “… every step taken toward reducing poverty and achieving broad based economic growth – is a step towards conflict prevention…” Basic objectives in development must be vigorously pursued to ameliorate the suffering of the masses of this sub-region.

Other areas of consideration include a sound policy framework, encouraging stable growing economies with full scope for a vigorous private sector and an adequate fiscal base, as enumerated in the World Bank Reports, 2000 – 2001. This should also include investment in social development, enhanced participation of people, and notably women in economic and political life and the reduction of social inequalities.  

Role of the Media

A Seminar on “Assistance to Media in Tension Areas and Conflict Situations: Conclusion of Seminar Discussions and Proposed Recommendations” (SIDA/UNESCO, Vaxholm 25 – 27 May, 2003), notes that the “media underpins development and democratisation and is a vital element in conflict resolutions and peace building… An independent media is the foundation of a democracy and more often than not the only guarantee in conflict management and post-conflict development efforts.”

However, the media can be a double-edged sword. It can precipitate conflict, a frightful weapon of violence, when it propagates messages of intolerance and disinformation that manipulates public sentiment. When the information given is however reliable, respects human rights and represents diverse views, if it enables a society to make well-informed choices, promotes democratic governance, then it can reduce conflict and foster human security.

The Case of Rwanda

Apart from various acts of excesses by some media across the continent, the case of Rwanda was the most pathetic.

In March of 1992, Radio Rwanda, a government owned station was first used in directly promoting the killing of Tutsi in a place called Bugesera. The role of the radio in inciting these killings clearly demonstrated the excesses the media can go to. Similarly, a bimonthly publication, the extremist newspaper, Kangura, was noted for its hysterical hatred of Tutsi and any Hutu who expressed the desire for change, freedom and democratic openness. Radio Television Libre des Milles Collins (RTLM), a station set up merely to air political news of one group, suddenly became the megaphone through which people were incited to mass murder.

 

The Rwandan genocide of 1994 clearly showed the tragedy in the excesses of some media organisations that abandoned all ethical considerations and resorted to stereotyping in a manner that prompted contempt and hatred for the Tutsi population.

 

Way Forward for the Media

It will not be out of place to advocate for ‘Peace Journalism.’ John Galtung coined the word, a style of reporting that seeks to de-escalate a conflict through focusing on “conflict transformation.” Although some experts view Peace Journalism as a departure from strict objectivity, one of the basic tenets of the profession, Galtung and others were however of the view that journalists ought to do more than just report from a distance.

Similarly, journalists must adhere strictly to their code of ethics, which stipulate among other considerations:

• Accuracy and fairness. The public has a right to know. Journalists must ensure factual, accurate, balanced and fair reporting, the ultimate objectives of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence.

• A journalist should refrain from publishing inaccurate and misleading information. Where such information has been inadvertently published, prompt correction should be made. A journalist must hold the right of reply as a cardinal rule of practice.

• In the course of duty, a journalist should strive to separate facts from conjecture and comment.

• Privacy. As a general rule, a journalist should respect the privacy of individuals and their families unless if it impinges on public interest.

• A journalist should refrain from using offensive, abusive or vulgar language. Similarly, a journalist should not present lurid details, either in words or picture of violence, sexual acts, abhorrent or horrid scenes.

• Discrimination. A journalist should refrain from making pejorative reference to a person’s ethnic group, religion, sex or to any physical or mental illness or handicap.

• Violence. A journalist should not present or report acts of violence, armed-robberies, terrorist activities or vulgar display of wealth in a manner that glorifies such acts in the eyes of the public.

• The media should prevent the circulation and broadcasting of propaganda, inflammatory material, hate media, and damaging rumours which can destroy communities and prevent the building of trust.

A basic premise of the public journalism movement is that journalism has a purpose that it ought to try and improve the quality of civil life by fostering participation and debate.

Schudson (1988) describes it as bases on a trustee model rather than a market or advocacy model. He writes (1998: 136), “In the trustee model, journalists should provide news according to what they as a professional group believes citizens should know.”

In Schudson’s word, “The Journalists are professionals who hold citizenship in trust for us.” According to Glasser and Craft (1997), “Public Journalism calls for a shift from a ‘journalism of information’ to a ‘journalism of conversation.’ The public needs not only information, but also engagement in the day’s news that invites discussions and debate.

Conclusion

The mass media as change agents must test the resiliency of free speech and free press clauses by challenging any attempt to gag the media. In doing so, however, they must resist the temptation to degenerate into any excesses that can cause disaffection or mayhem like the case of Rwanda. Only then can we succeed in the construction and sustaining of peace in this country.

 

- February 22, 2010 by Shu’aibu Usman (National Secretary- Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ))

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Source: www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx (accessed on 23.02.2010)