Killing Of Journalists: Shame Of An Age

The recent report by the International Federation of Journalists that 121 journalists were killed in the course of their duties in 2012 should worry every right thinking member of the society. Out of the figure, 13 were killed in Nigeria alone. Incidentally, both figures were said to be the highest level of casualties in recent times.

Confirming the high casualty rate of Nigerian journalists last year, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Muhammad Garba said the killings were the highest since the country gained political independence from Britain in 1960. He described as very sad the situation where journalists would be killed in course of doing their legitimate duties.

While we mourn the departed whose lives were so brutally cut short while trying to improve the lot of society, the killing of journalists particularly in Nigeria at this time is most unfortunate. As people by whose jobs democratic governance was restored in Nigeria, this is not the gratitude they deserve. That is why we enjoin all well meaning citizens to condemn in very strong terms this barbaric, unwarranted attack on members of the  fourth estate of the realm.

Apart from the fact that the media has become indispensable in nation building, its platform accommodates dissenting voices and opinions on issues that rule the open market place of ideas. Without a free press, free speech and the dissemination of contrary opinion, no nation can make progress.

Hence the important role which the media plays in the advancement of society is such that its practitioners should be accorded a pride of place in the scheme of things and not hounded like scoundrels as some anti-people elements are wont to do by killing journalists who may have inadvertently stepped on some big toes or uncovered issues they wished hidden from the public. Even so, what this is capable of doing to the fledging democracy in Nigeria is best imagined.

All well meaning persons must ensure that all attempts to fetter the press by retrogressive elements are not allowed to stand as any attempt to deter journalists from the pursuit of the truth and the exposure of corruption could take Nigeria back to the state of nature. However, the Nigerian media must be commended for not bowing to the intimidating tactics of enemies of social values but has continued to beam its searchlight on the dark corners of evil, while setting agenda for national discourse.

The Tide expects that as practitioners are attacked, media owners would improve on their work environment through better remuneration and meaningful life assurance policies being the issues that have been canvassed for decades without any change.  No welfare package would be too much for the professionals who are also targeted by terrorists these days.

It is indeed high time the media regulating bodies like the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN rose to the challenge by stepping up their supervisory roles on media business, to ensure that journalists get their due from their employers.

As we call on all men of goodwill to support media practitioners in their role as watchdogs of society, we hope that government would do all it takes to make the Freedom of Information Law in Nigeria operational. Here, the government must prove that it is committed to transparency.

Clearly, the killing of journalists is a direct attack on free press, democracy and social rebirth. The attempt at taking our generation back to the dark ages is what all well meaning people and governments must condemn and frustrate. If the authorities do nothing and the good people stay aloof, the attack on this essential arm of society would send ripples that would affect everybody.