The media, terrorism and Nigeria’s democracy

A lot is embedded in this attribution of the mass media. Beyond serving the all¬ important role of promoting development, sustaining culture, and keeping people informed, educated and entertained. The mass media also serves as the translators of events occurring in our society, interpreters of government and its actions, moulders of public opinion and instruments […]

A lot is embedded in this attribution of the mass media. Beyond serving the all¬ important role of promoting development, sustaining culture, and keeping people informed, educated and entertained. The mass media also serves as the translators of events occurring in our society, interpreters of government and its actions, moulders of public opinion and instruments for holding governments accountable for whatever they do or fail to do.
The state of insecurity that is currently permeating Nigeria has made necessary, the call on the media and all media professionals in the country, to arise and assume their social functions again. This is owing to the fact that the media in the country, have in the recent past, been resting on their oars and neglecting the task assigned to them by virtue of their professional calling as the originators and shapers of public information and opinion.
Experience has shown in the last four months in the country, that much of the anxiety of Nigerians over the state of insecurity in the country, is as a result of the array of rumours being peddled by some individuals who either have a penchant for stirring confusion, or are not properly informed about the state of affairs in the country.
The media in Nigeria, especially those owned by the government, have not done enough to help this situation as they are usually culpable of the unethical practice of not giving detailed reports of events happening in the country. For example, while religious houses were being attacked and the lives of innocent Nigerians untimely ended by miscreants, under the guise of religious extremism in December 2011, our National Media prided themselves in showing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the nation, dancing his heart out in the spirit of yuletide. When the media finally reported the incidents, their reports were riddled with holes. What does this suggest of the mass media in a country that claims to be the “giant of Africa”?
The media situation in Nigeria has become so bad that most people now prefer to buy satellite decoders irrespective of the cost of subscription, so that they can watch news about their own nation via cable satellite. The assumption is that the Nigerian media either do not give the news, or do not give the report the way the event happened.
The argument by the media is that such willful distortion of newsworthy information helps to curb heated tension among citizens of the country. This argument really holds no water. The media’s continued insistence on not telling Nigerians everything they ought to know, has continued to cause more harm than good. It is an indicator that the media is also at fault in making the mass of Nigerians unenlightened, ignorant, ill-informed, uneducated and therefore, prone to violence and other deviant behaviour.
The Americans who have for centuries practiced democracy have shown by their use of the media, that thorough investigative journalism and other media coverage and reportage of issues and events, can be used to strengthen the fabric of society, promote good governance and thus facilitate development.
Investigative journalism is not about exposing corrupt leaders alone, it is also about prying into other key issues of human interest such as the current spate of terror attacks and violent crimes in Nigeria, finding the root of such issues, and exposing the brains behind them so that justice can be meted out to them. It is also about exposing unethical practices by security personnel. Such as extra¬judicial killings of suspects, collection of bribe (agunje) at checkpoints, after delaying road commuters for unending minutes in the name of stop and search exercises.
Arguments exist that if the Nigerian media had reported the extra-judicial killing of the former Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, the current problem of terrorism would have been nipped in the bud, or at least managed to the barest minimum. However, see what that singular act of negligence has caused today.
The assertion from the issues raised is that the Nigerian media is by its silence on some very important issues in the country, contributing to the rise in terrorism in the country. Terrorism by political rogues who take delight in looting the public treasury, terrorism by people who have no respect for the environment and would go to any length to destroy it; terrorism by deviant youths who after abusing drugs, would vandalize the few available social amenities, terrorism by some overzealous religious fanatics without regard for the sanctity of life and the list is in exhaustive.
The time has come therefore, for the Nigerian media to respond to the wakeup call and reassume their social responsibility by providing useful information to the public after proper research. While doing this, however, the media must be guided by the principles of fairness and balance. The media should not by its reportage of issues and events cause emotions to be over steamed to the point of causing a conflict. Thus, a line must be drawn between ethical investigative journalism, and the drive for sensationalism.
We should never forget that the pen is mightier than the sword. The implication of this is that the media can by expressiveness or silence on issues, make or mart< the very essence of our democratic society. Therefore, the media must not fail to talk when it must; doing so in such a way that they are not seen as telling lies or half-truths.
The Nigerian media have what it takes to enable us accomplish a peaceful and sustainable democratic society. All that is needed is just the repositioning of the media system in the country. If this is achieved, Nigeria will soon be on the verge of curbing the menace of violent crimes and terrorism.
Fatima wrote in from Mass Communication Department, University of Maiduguri