“The general sentiment of mankind is that a man who will not fight for himself, when he has the means of doing so, is not worth being fought for by others, and this sentiment is just. For a man who does not value freedom for himself will never value it for others, or put himself to any inconvenience to gain it for others – Frederick Douglass, escaped American slave
This year’s World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday, May 3, was – as usual – greeted with wailing and gnashing of teeth by journalists. Whereas Kenyan media has much to celebrate as the nation’s democracy matures, major threats still lurk mostly chini ya maji.
Kenya Editors Guild president Churchill Otieno identifies a number of concerns, key among them: “Newsroom integrity and safety are coming under significant pressure as has always happened during elections,” he writes.
The number of powerful and influential people hard at work to force and influence editorial decisions to selfish ends is growing, the KEG boss warns. “Editors are daily called upon to fend off all sorts of strangers from the newsroom, but they persist. They apply threats, attacks, corruption and other dishonest methods in the quest to turn the media light off”. Ravenous vultures circling a gasping watchdog.
In an editorial on May 3, The Star supplied further details. “Harassment, confiscation and destruction of equipment, censorship from covering or airing certain stories and unnecessary restriction on information are eroding media freedom gains.”
“Use of state advertising as a carrot and stick against ‘errant’ media houses has muzzled free speech. Hefty court awards and unnecessary gag orders have also been used to silence the media”.
Nothing surprising. Because of the critical role the media plays in holding power to account in defence of democracy, journalists world over come under various forms of attack for their work. It’s up to the Fourth Estate to use every available tool to fight back for their freedom.
Media freedom is guaranteed in the Constitution. This means scribes not only have a solid basis to work undisturbed but also that they have legal and moral justification to push back in defence of this freedom.
But protection of media freedom in the Constitution does not – and will never – mean nobody is going to try to limit that freedom. If fact, on the contrary, the need to enshrine media freedom in the Constitution is the first indicator that the media is always at risk of attack.
Media freedom appears under The Bill of Rights. Journalists must see themselves as human rights defenders. They must always be on the lookout for violations, demand redress from duty bearers, build critical solidarities, and defend all rights all the time.
Human rights and freedoms are neither divisible nor hierarchical, ati certain rights are inferior to others. They are a single package and together define what it means to live to one’s full potential in a democratic society.
Sadly, some journalists, particularly the younger generation, appear not to appreciate the steep price that has been paid by those before them to enjoy media freedom today. To them, journalism is just a job.
It is not. It is a lot more than a mere source of income. Journalism is the lifeblood of democracy. Speaking truth to power always has its risks. Freedom is never free. The tree of freedom is watered by human blood.
So, all journalists must jealously protect media freedom as individuals and in their professional groups. Does it make sense that an association of environment, religious or crime journalists remains silent when a reporter is assaulted at work?
Enjoy your constitutional media freedom to the fullest extent possible. Push the boundaries, if need be, for the public interest. Defend media freedom always. Whenever anyone – no matter how high – attempts to curtail it, fight back. Kaa ngumu.
For a man who does not value freedom for himself will never value it for others or put himself to any inconvenience to gain it for others.
See you next week!
