By Dahiru Kasimu Adamu
We were in the car of Dr Abubakar Mohammed of the Department of Mass Communication, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). He graciously gave us a ride. There were five of us in total; three of us were non-academic staff at UDUS.
As we drove from the UDUS Bus stop, Dr Abubakar tuned the car radio to an Alfijir Radio phone-in programme. I don’t know the exact title of the programme, but it focused on current security issues.
One contributor called in and aggressively expressed his view, directly accusing the government. Part of his comment was: “basa aikinsu… suna da hannu ciki…”
Before he could finish, the call broke up, perhaps because of a poor connection. I could hear the presenter saying, “Hello, hello… kana tare da mu…”
Eventually, the call ended. The presenter cited network issues as the reason for the failed communication.
Immediately, one of the passengers in Dr Abubakar’s car responded:
“Ba network na ba. Hakanan suke. Su na amfani da dabarunsu wurin daƙile mutane su faɗi ra’ayinsu, haddai in ya shafi gwamnati. Yan jaridar nan hakanan suke… ba su da gaskiya.”
“It’s not a network issue. That’s their style. They use different manoeuvres to prevent people from expressing their views, especially when it concerns the government. These journalists are not honest…”
The man continued, attacking journalists and calling them different names.
The other two non-academic staff nodded in agreement, muttering their own grievances against the press. The car was now a bubbling cauldron of anti-media sentiment.
Dr Abubakar tried to ask me a question about what the responder had accused the presenter of doing. But the man kept going. When I tried to respond and debunk his fallacy, Dr Abubakar told me to let the man finish.
Unknown to the man, he was inside the car of a veteran broadcaster, a PhD holder in Mass Communication, and a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication.
When the man made his point, Malam zan iya cewa wani abu? Dr Abubakar asked.
Dr Abubakar responded calmly, in a clear, academic and scholarly manner.
He told the man, “Every profession has its ethics. Journalism is no exception. Legal frameworks and codes of ethics guide journalism. Broadcasters are to abide by these regulations.”
He mentioned some of the core ethical principles relevant to the man’s accusation: Balance, Objectivity, and Fairness.
Dr Abubakar also elaborated on the Law of Defamation and how journalists can be held liable if they cross that line.
Another interesting part of his explanation was a personal experience. He described how he narrowly escaped a defamation case brought against him involving the former Governor of Yobe State, Bukar Abba Ibrahim.
He further clarified that Alfijir Radio is a private radio station, not government-owned. Therefore, its philosophy and mission would not necessarily support the government completely.
Before Dr Abubakar’s explanation, the three passengers shared the first respondent’s mindset. But after his lecture, they partially changed their minds. They began to understand some aspects of journalism and why journalists cannot just allow people to make reckless, unsubstantiated, and potentially defamatory comments on air.
This scenario highlights how many people misunderstand journalism and misrepresent journalists as they carry out their duties.
People need to know that journalism is guided by laws and regulations. Healthy journalism is a tool for a healthy society.
Therefore, everyone should have media literacy.
If a car ride can transform minds, then a concerted media literacy campaign can change a nation. Citizens must understand that healthy journalism is not a threat; it is a tool for a healthy society. When people understand the “why” behind a journalist’s actions, trust is rebuilt.
The next time you hear ‘ba network ba ne, ask yourself: Is it censorship, or is it the law protecting us all?”
Dahiru Kasimu Adamu is a young journalist and Mass Communication student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.