BY AWAZIE SAMUEL
There is never a doubt any where that the function of journalists in a nation is highly important. Their need in the society over the years has made the people conclude that after government, which is a machinery through which a state is run, journalists should come next. Hence the name the fourth estate of the realm! This suggests that the society at large has a great expectation from the profession and the expectation can only be met as the professionals rise up.
Apart from the function of informing the public on the day-to-day happenings in their respective environments, if the men of the profession must help this nation at this time of choosing genuine leaders, all other function of the profession must be harnessed together now.
Importantly, the role of enlightening citizens regarding their rights and privileges in the political processes remains germaine. Obviously, one of the major problems that have been facing the polity is the ignorance of the electorate of their right and privilege in the electoral processes.
Over the years, Nigerians have faced the challenges of knowing who the right candidates with the interest of the populace at heart and how to elect men that are capable of moving the nation forward. All of this hangs on the ignorance of the electoral processes.
Moreover, the politics of give-me-I-give-you thrived for many years because people were not enlightened on the electoral processes. And this is where the enlightenment function of the journalists come to play. It is obvious that a large percentage of the media audience presently prefers the entertainment side of mass communication. However, the negligence of the enlightenment function will bring more harm to the people than before because the nation is at the critical point of its need.
Therefore, if Nigerians will not make the same mistake that had been made over the years – that is selling their electoral right for immediate pleasure – the press must rise to the occasion of properly enlightening members of the public.
Actually, what makes advanced countries like America better than a developing nation like Nigeria in the electoral processes as well as choosing of leaders is due to their level of enlightenment. They also know the consequences of selling of votes.
The challenge before the Nigerian media is also a product of developments in the country.
It is important to note that many politicians still exploit the ignorance of the electorate.
The matter of safety of the lives of journalists also poses a great challenge to the professionals in the discharge of their duty of enlightening the electorate. The recent report of attacks on journalists in the process of doing their work also sends a wrong signal.
The Freedom of Information Bill (FoI), which the media professionals think will ameliorate the struggle and which has just been passed by the National Assembly, would go a long way in helping members of the media to properly educate and enlighten the public
It is believed that with the passage of the FoI Bill, journalists would also reciprocate the massive goodwill which was invested in getting the National Assembly to pass the Bill. With the passage of the FoI Bill, it is believed that members of the public stand to benefit more from reports by journalists as they would be more informed on goings-on in government based on freer access to information.
* Awazie is an HND II mass communications student of Federal Polytechnic, Bida.
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FoI Bill to the rescue: Enlightenment role of the press before elections