It is no longer news that the mass media have great powers to influence people either negatively or positively. This is especially so in crisis situations. On many occasions when there have been crises in the country, some sections of the media tend to aggravate issues by engaging in sensational, unbalanced and sometimes outright biased reporting without considering the devastating consequences of such. For example, the second round of the July 1966 civil disturbances in Nigeria was sparked off by a highly distorted report carried by a radio station in a neighbouring West African country, which led to unnecessary bloodletting in the country. The civil war that followed was about the darkest period in the history of the country.
Decades after the civil war, the problem of irresponsible media reportage of happenings in the country seems not to have left us yet. It is quite embarrassing to students of journalism and other observers how some media organizations report ethno-religious crises in the country with obvious bias depending on the affiliation of the medium involved.
While the government controlled electronic media tend to play down on crises situations in line with government official policies, the largely private owned print media tend to exaggerate, possibly to win more readership and earn more income.
It must be stated clearly that the media have a sacred duty to the Nigerian state to present issues the way they are, bearing in mind the interest of the country. It is very important that national interest be placed far above parochial interests that individuals or groups may have. Even in the developed world that boasts of freedom of speech, the media are still responsible in exercising their freedom.
This does not stop the media from exposing evil deeds by anyone in society, especially those in power but it should not be done in a pull him/her down manner. Reports about individuals should not be because of their religious or political affiliations. No! The media need to rise up to the challenge of building a truly great nation where people will be scared of doing evil because they know they will be exposed by the media, irrespective of who they are in society.
This brings us to the attitude of some Nigerians to foreign broadcast media, especially the vernacular stations. A good number of Nigerians listen to these stations and take everything they broadcast as the gospel truth while regarding local stations as government megaphones. It is very important that such misguided Nigerians change their perception because even the so-called objective international stations are at best protecting the interests of their home countries and oftentimes their allies.
The media are the watchdogs of society and they must take this important role very seriously. Instead of fuelling the embers of crises, hate and disaffection among Nigerians, the media should be actively involved in ensuring accountability of government, and promoting peaceful coexistence, stability, and peace in the country.
By Nazif Abba Pali
