A Free Press is the bedrock of fair, transparent, and democratic societies. Nations can not thrive without a free Press that acts as oversight and holds officials accountable for institutional responsibilities.
With the rise of Populism and widening gap of trust between those in power and the citizenry, the role of a free and independent Press has become more vital and fundamental in ensuring checks and balances and enhancing people’s right to true, reliable and unbiased information.
Since the emergence of the New Public Management, the role of the private Media as a component of the fourth estate, has gradually shifted from “mere” Communication and information dissemination to a tool of Governance.
As the role of the private Media is becoming more essential in this new age of Bipolarity and Complexity, so too is the role of Media practitioners and Journalists.
From relaying information, combatting disinformation, reporting conflicts, setting the tone around National discourse, and upholding values, the role of private Journalists have become very crucial in shaping public opinion and protecting the civic space.
When private Journalists become victims of censorship and repression, Democracy dies in darkness, and people become mere subjects controlled by narratives exclusively designed to attain the objectives of an elitist few.
Any society that recognizes it’s Diversity must also be willing to accept the idiosyncratic nature of opinion as a major feature of Diversity. Hence journalists must be allowed to practice freely without fear of reprisal.
Kebi Valery N.