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The Journalist as Endangered Specie! By Joshua Ocheja
The journalist world over are often at the receiving end of societal battering, yet a noble profession, A profession of intellects with ample reading and writing skills. The effect the every day journalist has on the socio economic well-being of any sovereign state cannot be over emphasized.
Some have lost their lives, lost valuables and even become incapacitated in the line of duty, yet the job must be done. At times in my wondering state, I try to justify the reason why journalists are not appreciated! Common site to see a journalist in the line of duty hounded like a common criminal for the simple offence of asking a question or taking photographs.
The long term effect is compromised news coverage. The fear of the unknown syndrome has gradually infiltrated the profession that editors are circumspect of government news. They view government news from a leprous distance. Obviously nobody wants to spend precious time behind bars or having to be banished from the country.
I can’t but imagine how the society can be a better place when the truth can’t be told. The essence of having media houses I believe is for information dissemination.
The journalist is at the mercy of law enforcement agencies, they are viewed as the devils advocate, hence the unjust treatment meted out to them. This trend explains the stigmatization associated with the profession. Journalists in Nigeria face a "prevailing culture of brutality". Libel is still a criminal offence, with journalists forced to prove their innocence.
A fraternity between the press and the government is virtually impossible because of the traditional surveillance role of the press. The task of promoting press freedom is formidable but not insurmountable because of the caliber of journalists in the country.
Late Babatunde Ajose,Peter Enahoro, Tom Borha, Henry Odukomaya, Olusegun Osoba, Tony Momoh, Neville Ukoli, Lateef Jakande, Sam Amuka, Dan Agbese and Ray Ekpu to mention but a few are among the first generation of Nigerian journalist that faced expurgation under the military.
It is intolerable that federal authorities can do as they wish with journalists with security agencies carrying out their dirty work with impunity.
Nigerian journalists are undaunted in their belief in press freedom, social responsibility, democracy and the rule of law for all Nigerians.
If the truth must be told, a typical Nigerian journalist has in his memoirs, tales of horrid encounters with agents of the government, which lingers interminable. Covert means have been employed to stay in business for fear of harassment.
This precarious trend dates back to the News watch era, when the profession lost one of its finest products to the agents of darkness. Not just that we were witnesses to the numerous sacrifices elders of the profession made to keep their lives and flag flying during the military regime. They saw encountered and conquered! They strived to disseminate information under nauseating environment. Some media houses were shut down, editors taken into hostage, all for the advancement of the profession.
It was indeed a sad encounter and I believe some almost called it quit! But today though the story has not changed but taken a sophisticated dimension in that the journalist has become an enemy of the state and a fugitive in his own country.
The police are the guiltiest in this era. The police man on the street has a number one enemy in the journalist, and they have lived up to that responsibility by ensuring that the journalist is always battered and humiliated at the slight opportunity. Nigerian journalists are often subjected to violence on the least pretext, without anyone ever being punished.
These acts of intimidation and constant harassment have brought about a dearth of personnel in the profession, which is not healthy. The journalist today has become endangered specie! As at writing this piece, agents of the government are seriously on the trail of some of us, take Sahara reporters and Point blank news promoters as examples.
We were witness to the brazen display of absolute disregard for the profession when the federal government ordered the closure of channels television in Lagos Nigeria. For days the organization was under lock and key. What was the offence? Unverified news report. Yes, news items are supposed to be verified before going to press, but in a polity where a lot has been said about the president and his health status, resigning from office was not farfetched in the minds of the citizens if you will agree with me.
The list is endless! Do we talk about our colleagues we have lost to men of the Nigerian police force? We have been treated unfairly, but the solace we have is in the fact that we have continued to weather the storm and churning out quality news at all times.
But for how long will this trend continue? As it stands we are on the verge of extinction because we might not realize now that some of our brightest have been sent to their graves by people and avoidable acts.
If my opinion were to count, I will suggest that the senate passes a bill that serves as a shield to every journalist on the street. A penalty or fine is laid down as penalty for harassing a journalist, to act as a deterrent to others. Some will laugh this off as a huge joke, but what else can I say?
This piece is not intended to attract sympathy from any quarters, but to draw our attention to a noble profession on the verge of extermination!
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