Don’t let politicians drive your news van
AS the general elections draw near, there is a palpable buzz in the air and that is the kind that rattles both camera tripods and political podiums.
Campaigns are in full swing; politicians are suddenly remembering the names of villages they have not visited in five years and media houses are being invited to “cover events” in the countryside, all expenses paid.
Tempting, isn’t it? Let us be clear: This is the most crucial time for journalists to check their ethics like they check their pay slips.
The role of the media is not to clap when the crowd claps or echo campaign slogans like parrots on payroll. The media must be impartial, especially now when misinformation spreads faster than a politician changing their manifesto mid-sentence.
There is a disturbing trend creeping in. Certain media outlets have begun to sound like campaign arms of political parties and that is complete with glowing profiles, suspiciously friendly headlines and coverage so one-sided it makes a boomerang look straight.
Some journalists have even been seen strategising to accept “transport allowances” to attend rallies in remote areas. Newsflash: If you are being paid to attend, you are not a reporter. You are a rented cheerleader with a press card. Dear journalists, professionalism is not seasonal. It does not go on leave during elections.
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Resist the urge to publish ideology for pay or present propaganda as news. Your job is to inform the public, not influence their vote under the guise of objectivity.
The press must be the voice of the people, not the ventriloquist’s dummy of politicians with deep pockets. And to our dear politicians: Stop using rallies as wrestling rings. Campaigns are not open-mic nights for trading insults or personal vendettas.
Hurling abuse at your opponents does not show strength; it shows a worrying lack of policy. Voters deserve ideas, not slander. They come to hear your vision for the country, not your version of someone else’s skeleton closet.
We have seen it before how inflammatory language, unchecked hate speech and irresponsible reporting have led to unrest. If you are holding a microphone, whether on a podium or behind a news desk, remember that your words carry weight. Use them wisely.
The nation is watching and more importantly, listening. Media houses must double-check facts, give balanced airtime and call out incitement wherever it occurs, no matter which side of the political fence it comes from.
And politicians must remember that their rhetoric doesn’t disappear after the rally. It circulates on WhatsApp, sparks fires on Facebook and if left unchecked, can ignite real-world conflict.
So, let us all take a deep breath. Let us cover this election season with the seriousness it demands. Let us inform, not inflame. Let us campaign, not combat. And most importantly, let us keep peace at the centre of it all and that is before, during and after the polls. Because after all the votes are counted, we still have to live together.
No politician’s win is worth the country’s loss. So, to the media: Hold the mic with integrity, not allegiance. And to the politicians: Try campaigning with ideas, not insults. Who knows the people might even vote for that.
