‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour’ is the 2020 theme of World Press Freedom Day. A careful assessment of this theme ties it to Walter Williams’ The Journalist’s Creed of 1914.
Williams, the first dean of the Missouri School of Journalism — the first such school in the world — carefully crafted this philosophy, telling journalists some hard and painful truths while revealing that this profession draws threats from the privileged and mobs.
In the Creed, Williams urged journalists to “believe” that ”suppression of the news for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.”
He said that journalism of impact is one that “is unswayed by the appeal of privilege or the clamour of the mob.” To be unmoved and file a critical report requires, among other qualities, “clear thinking.”
So, while, across the world, many journalists, individually and through their associations, unions, and guilds, annually when marking the Press Freedom Day on May 3, point accusing finger at the usual culprits, namely the government, the media ownership, the laws, top editors, managers, advertisers, and limited training, they forget the buck stops with them.
A journalist, whether a reporter, a copy/sub editor, news editor, revise editor, or managing editor must ask questions that deliver critical reports
A journalist asks self endless times: What is the story? This means the newsroom is the place of furious debate, exchanges and changes, or “cutting, boiling, and killing” of stories like the late media trainer Magayu Magayu used to say at the then prestigious School of Journalism (SOJ) at the University of Nairobi.
Successful journalism, guided by the ever-fresh news values, was designed to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
Across the world, journalists ought to be more vigilant, relying on their conviction, passion, and drive to stick to public service ideals.
But going against the grain is not easy because threats abound, including frozen promotions, pay cut, profiling by fellow journalists, sacking, maiming or murder.
In 2007, when she was CNN’s chief international correspondent and a Committee to Protect Journalists board member, Christiane Amanpour, said in a CPJ report that when journalists are murdered for filing sensitive stories, the rest censor themselves while the world becomes “poorer, deprived of vital information and the ability to hold those in power to account.”
Apart from the threats of militias and governments, who use gag laws and police force, advertisers, teaming up with weak-kneed editors and chief executives, have hurt journalism by dangling the ad millions while pushing for privileged coverage at the expense of the society.
Indeed, while mobs also arm-twist journalists, employers and commercial interests, through advertising, have given the Press sleepless nights while silencing the scribes.
Sadly, these ills are getting worse, partly with the invasion of chief editors’ cubicles by the advertising gangs seeking special coverage for their clients in prime pages and special mentions on radio and TV. All in the name of “preserving” jobs.
While this is happening, journalists usually sit meekly, curtseying to the advertisers and ill-mannered editors, instead of asking why the haemorrhage is happening. Useful edit should add value to a report, which should be obvious to the reporter in the published version.
Asking questions is how journalists get good stories that improve the world, even exclusives that give them recognition. Indeed, it is through asking editors questions — without fear — that the profession will be secured and more jobs created.
It is sad that invariably after a journalist grows or is pushed through the ranks to become an editor, they drop the ball and take eyes off the target: public interest.
Increasingly, the bulk of media stories sound like praise songs for companies and individuals launching a cattle dip or donating a hand sanitiser here and there while stories on critical assessment of the business are killed and buried under the rubble of ad revenues.
When stories of poor service or poor management are highlighted, journalists and editors get the flak from “senior managers” who think ad money is bigger than public interest. It is at such times that journalists (an editor or a reporter) should question the interference that end up killing the business or an entire industry.
So, the threats notwithstanding, a journalist ought to keep asking useful questions and file similar stories.
If journalists fear victimisation and losing jobs when they ask useful questions at press conferences and back at work when their editors “remove the sting” from stories, they ought to speak to media observers and regulators to highlight the intimidation in regular reports.
If media watchdogs are spineless, either because of corruption or poor leadership, the fearless journalist ought to look for other people who can help.
