WAR AGAINST TRUE JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA

ReCently a news was relied against the human right of freedom of speech by Nigeria Broadcasting Commission which restrain the journalist from relating sensitive issue or event in the country to the public. Whereby some media houses were penalised for relating the issue of killing in a part of the state in Nigeria.

However, the correspondent of JBNNEWSCHAT interviewed one of the veterinarian in media industry in Nigeria. The CEO of a Media House, an investigative journalist, Public Speaker, Life Coach and leadership expert.

JBNNEWSCHAT: Good morning sir and you are welcome to morning briefing a program designed to discuss issues related to lifestyle, politics, business and current affairs. Sir you are aware of the new instruction by Nigeria Broadcasting Commission refrain journalists from covering issues related to terrorist activities in the states please what is your take on this?

MR JOSH: Thank you once again I believe before the issue of this law some people would have sit down and deliberated on this issue. However I want to believe the head of states would be aware of the action taking. Therefore, it’s very obvious that probably the source of their information that form the basis of their decision is totally obsolete or imbalance.

It’s just like thief invaded a community and the leaders of the community now said people should not shout or call for help. Two things might for the basis of this action 1. It’s either they are the thieves that invaded the community or they know those thieves that invaded the community.

Decisions making process is the critical part of any governance. It requires people of intelligent mind and highly informed people not quack or mentally polluted individual. Definitely someone is trying to hide something.

Journalism in its true nature is to bridge the gap between the leader and the followers and clear people’ doubt by informing the masses with truth and nothing but truth. Now for an agency of the federation decided to refrain the truth shows the disposition against true democracy and freedom of speech.

Any country in the light of this practices may claim to be democratic but in real sense she is not, rather a dictatorship. The delicate agency to fight is media just as this name denotes remember the word has link with mediation. Media stand in between two group of people and mediate. It creates common ground for understanding each other so we can foster our relationships and achieve more together with our differences.

Therefore, battle against the media is actually battle against peace and true judgment in the country. Experience, shows that any government fighting against media is fighting against the entire kingdom and house divided against each itself can not stand. So likewise, the fall of the government that fight against media would be great.

JBNNEWSCHAT: Sir in a situation whereby most of the prominent media houses are own by the government of the day or individual in place of authority. What do you have to say to this?

MR JOSH: Yes you are right most of the media houses are own by the politician which is very wrong by professional creed. Anybody Can own a business but the purpose and the ethics of the business most be respected and everybody involved must submit to the ethics of the profession. If any politician owns a media house that is not primarily right for him or her to interrupt or obstruct the creed and ethic of the organisation directly or indirectly.

However, there were other politicians in the past that owned media houses yet they did not use it for their self-center ambition. I have no problem with independent broadcasting houses but where the problem is with Nigeria independent broadcasting house is wrong motives and autocratical management system.

For instance most of the broadcasting houses in other part of the country are owned by either individual or organisation. Meanwhile, I want to believe that even government owned media houses are not as popular as independent media houses.  Nevertheless Individual that established media house do no wrong, only when the ethics and rule of the journalism profession is not respected then there would be problem. Independent media house owner create job opportunity for the young ones to showcase their talent and contribute to socio-economic development of the country.

Nigeria should be careful with politics of segmentation and nepotism so we all can enjoy the diffidence of true democracy. Our constitution is barbaric and need to be balanced up. It barbaric because it shields one part of the people in the country and suffers other part of the people in the county. Some states are working for other states to spend and enjoy while the states that are working are eating like rat and those that labour less are eating like an elephant. This is not human and it’s against the law of progressive and all inclusive governance

However, the law made does not affect those who are working less because they claimed the influence of other laws of which the constitution supported. In a situation like this any jack and carry can rise up over night and refrain the hope and right of the  masses to truth and instructed the media how not to carry stories that has to do with security meanwhile lives and properties are being vandalised everyday.

JBNNEWSCHAT: How doe this new law affect new media?

MR JOSH: The advent of new technology brought about new media. Before now most people that study journalism could practice their profession due to communication constrain. Then only those who have opportunity to work in a paid media house do the the job. Now with this new constrianing law of hidden the truth from the people or trying to paint blackin white format could be dangerous to our societies and put people into the street for no good reason only craving to know the true story of and event.