COMMENT: Rethinking role of media

The mass media, especially independent media, becomes particularly important in a political system because it performs two major functions; it gives the voiceless a voice they would never have had and also assumes the role of a ‘presumptive’ or ‘surrogate’ parliament.

The power of the word, with all its limitations, remains the only reliable medium for extracting accountability, good governance, and openness in government under the present political system which does not allow organised opposition to thrive.

The independent media is not a headache to the powers that be all the time. It also has positive benefits for the government since the very existence of such media adds to the legitimacy of the government and, therefore, to the stability of the country. It is often said that in Africa, while the minority may be allowed to have its say, the majority must always be allowed to have it.

That of course is not particularly helpful maxim because it points to a chronic lack of sensitivity to other people’s cherishered views. The minority, however small, should be given a hearing and consideration. That is why some of us insist that even the most errant mass media actually works in the public interest. The mass media is generally a mirror of society. So it might be interesting to find out what our society sees as its core values and whether we see these values reflected in the pages of our newspapers or on the airwaves.  By which standards do we judge our mass media and ourselves as a society? And how does the mass media deal with the delicate social and political issues? Are political and legal constraints more paramount to the media than ethical considerations?

There is tendency  in Uganda for the `privilegentia’ to prescribe a role for the mass media that only furthers their privileges  hence those high sounding notions about how the mass media should not dwell on ‘negative reporting but help to promote development , unity and that it must limit itself only to `constructive criticism’.  I disagree, because the mass media in Uganda has exactly the same role as the media in any other part of the world, to report the day’s news and comment on public affairs, positive and negative, because all those are legitimate issues for coverage.

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Isabella Bwiire works with the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)