Media freedom the other side of democratic

midnight

Friday, 15 December 2017

Last week I challenged the powers that be to walk the talk on media freedom.
Because it had become increasingly obvious that only murder and mayhem
separated the present dispensation from the previous regime.

Once in power all politicians feel the sharp thorn of the Fourth Estates disrespect.
It is the same independence of spirit they encouraged and endorsed when they
were in opposition. There is only the signal difference that where once the
military jackboot of a government grown fat on the spoils of war stamped out all
dissent with ruthless efficiency, a far more effete administration that has
succeeded it in more ways than one but is no less annoyed at a refusal of some
segments of the press to pursue peace without honour merely grouses in
private, grumbles in public, and mutters maybe not so idle words about media
conspiracies.

But today I want to be among the first to admit that it is not only an abundance of
political chefs who spoil the media soup. There is an embarrassment of less than
salutary practitioners too who have let the side down since time immemorial.
Here are but a few representative samples of the well-known aspects of our
industry, in a coded schema of sorts, which dont get discussed much outside
inside circles:
A House by the Lake that has been traditionally owned and operated or
overseen by the House by the Oya
(A public secret; theres no big revelation to be gobsmacked about there, folks)
A Leading newspaper group with a Sunday flagship publication which was
once, briefly, at the forefront of cutting-edge journalism but in reality was
a front for a presidential aspirant, and whose editor had political ambitions
of his own and was probably assassinated for it
(An insider secret among those privy to private knowledge among the media
glitterati, to which truth yours truly can attest perhaps a trifle shamefacedly)
The Capitalist media house that has traditionally backed both houses in
the House, but has recently realised the relative merits of going it alone,
even if it still has powerful friends
(The perception that is growing as a widespread social campaign consolidated
in peoples hearts by a significant social media presence makes an impression at
the political periphery, evidently with its eyes on the centre of power)
Other considerations also intrude on the media scene. These days the buzz in the
medias academic wing is much about the intrusiveness of the so-called nanny
state. These same guardians of ours are also concerned with the rights of the
general citizenry when it comes to matters such as ageism, sexism, and all the
other isms and schisms that divide the free media from academia.

The form order tests

(If you are free, take this test. It is not a compulsory exam so many politicos
have not passed their O Levels, so why should the media be any different? But be
warned. This is only a rough guide to the state of the Fourth Estate. Hoist by their
own petard, the independent press may have to admit later that they were
bought, kept, and discarded by their political masters and mistresses.)

A. Essays
1.Critically evaluate the state of the free media today. Start up your own media
house in order to launch an investigation if necessary. Perhaps you could consider
purchasing the buying power of a moneybags politico with deep pockets and
deeper ambitions with his eye on the main chance. (Caution: be prepared for the
rat-bag to later deny all knowledge of his investment in you. Or to have him divest
himself of his interest in you because you and your rag and rag-tag motley crew
are no longer the leading edge in investigative journalism or the leader in
anything, really.) [FULL MARKS FOR FLYING UNDER FALSE COLOURS FOR SO
LONG]
B. Short Answers.
1. Let us know your views in brief on the political ambitions of a certain
capitalistic media house that is going great guns in its hearts and hands
campaign to position its presidential aspirant in the minds of the masses. YOU
report. WE decide.

2. Do you think it is a good thing for the House by the Lake to be owned (in some
or any sense) by the House by the Oya, so that its majority members best vested
interests can be presented and defended? (HINT do remember that were
supposed to be a functioning democracy these days, dear, not some banana
republic or tin-pot regime!)

3. Was social media the real king maker in the revolutionary election of January
2015? Does the government know that it is in danger of being unseated by a
similar movement if it does not get off its butt and dust off its long-forgotten
laurels?

4. Have all those reputedly scurrilous online websites which are critical of the
bureaucracy/state/government no real standing in civil society? Are they not free
media too? Would the libertarian champions of an unfettered press stand up and
speak out on their behalf as well

C. MCQ.
1. A leading media house that had won the trust of its readership through its
bloodied but unbowed stand before the bludgeoning of fate and those players in
politics is:

a. A scam, a sham, a shame.

b.Bloodied and unbowed because it had the big guns of its day protecting it.
 c. Caught in the miserable political machine of money- and idea-laundering!

d. Doomed to the dustbin of history as a result of its lamentably exposed track

record

2. If there was one thing you would want/need/like the free media to improve
itself on, it would be:

a. All of the below

b.Better language skills (eds. and subs. take note)

c.Clearer accounts of transparency (over to you owners and heads of stations)

d.Decency in reporting sex-crimes+

e. Every once in a while a sunshine story not everyday

3. The relationship between the media and its political masters could/should be:

a. Acrimonious

b. Brutally honest on both sides

c. Cordial

d. Distant

e. Eh, I dont understand the question what relationship?

f. Forget, sorry!

g. Go figure.

h. Have a small drink. Here is a small gift for you also.

 i. I thought I told you that were a functioning democracy, no.

j. Just forget it. (See f. above also)

k. Kiss my art (pardon my French)

l. Love-hate. We love you. You hate us.

m. Media IS/ARE the political masters, right?

n. No comment.

o. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.

p.Perhaps you could/should rephrase the question

q.Quiet there in the gallery, please, were trying to

copy/cheat/think/swim/sink/launder money/drink to forget, etc.

r. Really, is any relationship possible between a minister who once thought the
press could be bought for a pint and the highfalutin grandstanding hes doing
these days?

s. Shall we move on to the next question already.

t. Thanks, next question please. (Can I draft it and the PMs office will approve
the final, ah.)

u.Understand that all the machinations are done by the Machiavellian

Presidential Secretariat, not the poor premier.

v. Video surveillance is not being carried out by our nanny state in order to
maintain the sweetness of its relationship with the Fourth Estate.
 w. Whats up with all that we promise impunity for the press stuff when the
powers that be still feel free to point fingers and lay blame at the door of media
houses?

x. X still marks the spot where the slain editor lies in eternal mystery as to his
assassins, so dont even start me on relationships.

y. You cant remember what the question is.

z. ZZZ: Im falling asleep on the job too, just like the rest of civil society.

I enjoyed that. Didnt you? Perhaps though the point is not so much to be
entertained by the free media as to be encouraged to think! Critical engagement
with the powers that be whom we voted in by the way is best not left to party
stooges posing as editors, paper or straw men parading their ignorance about
media ethics, pathetic excuses for newspapermen schooled by their political
masters. Civil society must step up to the plate in this electronically empowered
era of online citizen journalism. That revolution will not be televised in the
middle of the village. The time is ripe for a social media overhaul of traditional
news and views outlets. It wont happen if you just sit there reading this. Go. Start
a blog. Or something. Bet it will be better than the balderdash I write. Good luck.
(A senior journalist, the writer was once the Chief Sub Editor of The Sunday
Leader, 1994-8, and is ex-LMD, having been its Editor, 2004-8. He has made a
career out of asking questions, and not waiting for answers.)
Posted by Thavam