The role of the media in national development has never been in doubt. What has drawn the ire of the public has to do with the excesses of some of the practitioners.
The liberal and successful democracies of the world can boast the presence of a very strong and independent media. These countries have a very liberal media landscape.
Until recently, most African countries that have today adopted multi-party democracy muzzled the press in the name of national development.
Post-independent Africa was replete with governments that resisted free press and freedom of expression and, therefore, put in place legislation that required the licensing of all media of communication, such as radio, TV and newspapers.
There was a period not too long ago when the state was the only legitimate body that operated the media of mass communication. Some religious bodies that ventured into that enterprise always ran into conflict with the government, while private individuals who operated newspapers were regularly harassed.
That period was referred to as the era of the “Culture of Silence” when people in the country had to tune in to the foreign media for information on their country and government, especially information that was critical of the leaders.
It was this history that guided the framers of the various constitutions to create the framework for a free and independent media.
The 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution guarantees the freedom and independence of the media and also prohibits the censorship of the media.
A few decades ago, when the government was responsible for appointing the governing boards of the state-owned media and editors, there was no security of tenure for such officials.
That explained why many editors became praise singers and megaphones of the political leadership.
Fortunately, the Constitution has insulated the media from government interference and helped to embolden the media to be critical of the actions of all public office holders.
However, there are concerns being expressed over the excesses of certain media practitioners who have decided not to respect the code of ethics of the journalism profession.
Sometimes we wonder whether we are in the era of tyranny of the media, with journalists talking and writing about people without regard for the norms of the profession.
Our airwaves and newspapers are dominated by voices of the political class who always look at issues with political lenses, thereby relegating national concerns to the background.
There are many challenges confronting the country that demand immediate answers but because of the extreme partisanship in society, including the media landscape, we still grope in the dark, seeking solutions to the problems in the areas of health, education and the economy.
Certainly, we need a very strong media that can give us the voice to tell our leaders to do what will make life comfortable for all of us, not a partisan media.
The Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga, was spot on when he advised media houses to employ experts to discuss specialised subjects, instead of engaging social commentators and political actors who might not have deep knowledge of the issues at stake.
The media are a potent force for national development, but they can be destructive if the people in charge decide to use them to divide the ranks of the people, especially along partisan lines.
The media are a powerful tool for promoting knowledge and enlightenment in society, for which reason we should not give room to those who want to use them for negative activities.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, appeals to all media practitioners and the people to support the media to become the key driver of the free exchange of ideas, a bastion against dictatorship and corruption in society.
Daily Graphic/Ghana
