How Far Can The Media Go?

There appears to be growing hiding places for the hydra-headed problem of corruption which many Nigerians consider the bane of all problems the nation faces.  It is not an over-statement to state that corruption is fast becoming an umbrella for all other problems experienced by Nigerians.  Its effect on the daily life of Nigerians makes it imperative for it to be on the front burner of the nation’s activities perpetually.

Whether sincerely or insincerely, the government is seen to be doing something or even waging a war against the malaise through its anti-corruption agencies – the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, in spite of the efforts made by the two anti-graft agencies, the problem thrives unabated.  The nation keeps incurring huge losses through the activities of corrupt persons both in human and material terms.

While government has established agencies to fight the menace in order to demonstrate its sincerity to Nigerians and the international community, the third agency which the government must incorporate in this fight is the media.  The need to involve the media in the fight for a corrupt-free society has become expedient given the strategic role it plays in structuring and re-structuring society.

The media, as the fourth estate of the realm and indeed society’s watchdog, must be strategically incorporated in the battle else the anti-graft war will remain inconclusive. Unfortunately, there were few cases where the media was bashed for playing its role as society’s watchdog.

A typical example was the revelation of the decay at the Police College, Ikeja, by the media during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s era. Comments attributed to the then president on that commendable feat indicated that the media was not a desirable partner in the anti-corruption drive.

How do you fight corruption? How do you expose corrupt acts or persons without the media? Because some of our leaders are not honest with the anti-corruption drive, they have always made a section of the media a collaborator in endemic corruption.  The media must not renege on its role as an institution that corrects wrong as well as set agenda for society.

Though it can be argued that the mass media has not lived up to expectations in the face of the increasing cases of corruption, it has made some achievements in that regard.  The media must be appreciated for the gains.

Apart from exposing corruption perpetrated by institutions and individuals, the media has always embarked on good governance tours of states and local government councils with the aim of ascertaining the extent of development in these areas.

Deserving state governments and council chairmen are given awards for meritorious services.  Those who perform below expectations are exposed and reprimanded, regardless of the fact that some of the media tours were alleged to have some political undertone.

While the media can be described as good partners in the fight against corruption, the industry has also been found to be handicapped in this war.  For one, some journalists are seen as accomplices in corruption to some extent.  For instance, some editors are card-carrying members of political parties and consultants to some politicians, making it difficult for them to speak or write any negative reports about such politicians or parties as they remain bound to do the bidding of their masters.

Poor remunerations and poverty have been identified as factors responsible for this trend.  These have compelled many journalists to be susceptible to manipulations by corrupt persons or institutions.  Rather than give the public qualitative and accurate reporting of events, some journalists would settle for shallow and sensational reporting to avoid biting the fingers that feed them.

If journalists must write freely and come up with well-researched and objective stories, there is need to effectually utilize the Freedom of Information Act which allows access to information.  With enough fact at their disposal, speculative information or reporting would be eroded.

The media is faced with several challenges that warrant it to be vibrant and uncompromising.  In view of this, media experts must come together, pool their resources and own media organisations to avoid being used by politicians to achieve their unbridled political ambition.