RADRODRO: JOURNALISTS NEED TO DIG DEEPER
OPPOSITION MP ADDRESSES FIJI SUN REPORTERS CONCERNING POST ELECTION MEDIA COVERAGE
Here is the full address of SODELPA Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro to Fiji Sun journalists on July 22, 2018 during an election workshop at the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.
Aworld activist once said: “States may see the world through the eyes of the law, but politicians often see it through the eyes of the media”.
The executives of the Fiji Sun, veteran media personality Mr Nemani Delaibatiki, senior journalists, and to you ladies and gentlemen of the
Fiji Sun newsroom.
I thank you for the invitation to address you all, this afternoon in my capacity as someone aspiring to be an approved candidate for our upcoming 2018 General Elections. When I received the invitation to speak to you today on what we as elections hopefuls can hope for, and expect from the media during elections campaign period, I confess my immediate reaction was one of reservation.
I felt that I would be making myself vulnerable to a group of people who have often been viewed by people in my profession, as adversaries.
Whether fairly or unfairly, the media have often been termed a people we must avoid at all costs.
To those that are media savvy however or politically learned, they appreciate that the media can mean opportunities to have your story shared, and your intentions made known to people you want to influence.
After much thought and in between watching the Rugby 7s World Cup in San Francisco, USA, I decided this would be a crucial opportunity to seize, to help you the media, and help us all as a nation, and as a people, to realise our own responsibilities to this very important democratic process. On that note, I congratulate you as an entity in holding this workshop to help you all prepare.
It’s a positive indication that you are aware of the very important role you play, in this upcoming elections process. Introduction
The media can echo, amplify, or substitute for citizens’ voices. If a media entity is fair and independent, you can reflect what our citizens feel and want.
Having said that, I accept that the media is a complex system, whose behaviour varies over time and place, according to politics, history, culture, technology, and individuals. Thus for politicians like me, learning to ‘dance’ with that system means finding out how the media works in any given setting, learning its language, timetable, and incentives. This will allow us to maximise our messages for the benefit of people.
For our people, understanding the role of the media in boosting accountability, also allows them to understand their own power. Thus, just as politicians should enjoy a workable relations with the media, the general public should do so too, to enable them to use the media to their advantage.
Scholars throughout generations have stated that the three Estates being the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary make up the pillars of democracy.
The Press has been described by some of our leading global scholars and philosophers as being the fourth estate. Describing journalists and the news outlets as members of the fourth estate is an acknowledgment of their influence and status, among the greatest powers of a nation. It’s not something to be proud of however, and wear it as a chip on your shoulder. It should be a sobering thought rather, and one taken with humility, in recognising how crucial the medias’ role is, to society.
You will appreciate that we are in extraordinary times. With the introduction of social media into our lives, the traditional media landscape has evolved to focus as well on those normally seen to be the ‘broadcasters’.
Personally I cannot fault society in that respect. After all, globally, the media is a powerful influence. Through your role, you are able to shape people’s perception and influence decision making. It will thus be fair to expect the spotlight to shine upon you as well, and on how you carry out your roles. Frankly, I must say that the Fiji Sun in that respect, has not escaped its fair share of public scrutiny and criticism.
You will be aware that you’ve been accused of being propagandists for Government. Then again, your rival newspaper, has also not escaped scrutiny. They have often been accused of being pro Opposition. Other prominent media outlets have likewise not escaped scrutiny. The FBC and Communications
Fiji Limited, are two other favourite media outlets that our political commentators like to fix their claws into, every now and then. It’s up to you the media, to defend how you’ve been viewed and to carry out your role the way you should. I hold the personal view that your own conscience should allow you to be comfortable with yourselves and the positions you take, for surely you know, that history remembers us for what we allow them to remember. Elections coverage
So how can the media, in particular the Fiji Sun, help and contribute positively to our national elections process?
In my opinion, as members of the media, your primary role must be to recognise the importance of ensuring our people are given the necessary information, which will assist them make an informed decision when electing our next government, and our next batch of national leaders.
As an aspiring candidate, I will look forward to you being fair and balanced in your reporting. If you were to approach me for my views or opinion on a subject matter, I will expect you to be accurate in reporting what I give you.
At the same time, I will anticipate that you will do your own research to balance the story. In understanding your role, I will accept that you will speak to other political opponents similarly, to gauge their own opinion on the same subject matter. By doing so, I will appreciate that you are ensuring our voters view candidates from an equal platform. As an aspiring candidate and as a current Member of Parliament and in speaking from my 2014 experience, I am well aware that the media is often on our trail as we campaign, and often, you will capture exchanges that occur during discussions with the public. What I will expect however, is for the media to be responsible in your reporting. Whilst we expect you to report as you hear, it will not do you any harm, to always cross check information with us as candidates again, should you find something controversial has been said. Of course, we do not expect you to change your story lines if indeed we have said something that may attract public scrutiny. Every candidate should be aware that everything we say during campaigns will be recorded. But ethically, you have a moral responsibility to weigh what you report.
If you have heard something racist or homophobic said during the rally. Do you report it as it has been said? If so, have you asked yourself what good does it bring to our nation should you report it the way you are? And does the report assist our voters in their decision making? Or is it likely to breed similar sadistic mind-sets? People by nature love attention. And so some candidates will make controversial statements because it means they get air time. Media time.
The media, ladies and gentlemen, can do two things.
One – is to inform and caution the general public by highlighting something a candidate says as they’ve said it.
Or, two – the media can put into context what has been said, and expand on it further with the candidate, to get the whole picture of what they are wanting to say.
It’s easy to fall into the temptation of creating controversy. Controversy makes for front page news, I am well aware. But, let me say that I’ve often found that one line comments said during a rally, or a direct short response, does not often sum up properly the message that political parties may be promoting. It can sometimes come across as being blunt and questionable. This is where your proper judgement will come into play. If you give them an opportunity to explain their views again, or ask them to reconfirm what you’ve heard and they do so by repeating whatever controversial statements that they may have earlier said for example, then you have your story fair and square.
I will reiterate that the media has a crucial role in nation building.
Our ultimate goal, all of us, is to ensure we have a nation that is peaceful, that functions as a democracy and is rewarding to all its citizens and stakeholders. Therefore our leaders play a very important role in making that happen. From the perspective of a society leader I would like to end my address to you all this afternoon by encouraging you to go beyond the usual boundaries of your comfort zones.
What I feel is lacking in our society today is journalists that are willing to dig deeper. Your role in a general election is most crucial. The kind of information you avail to the public, should help them choose candidates that will become worthy leaders of our nation. Questions you should be focusing on in my opinion should include; what has this particular candidate contributed towards his or her community? How long have they been contributing towards building our communities? Have they been leaders before? What were they involved in prior to joining politics and what were their track records? Have they only become involved in community projects on the eve of elections? Have their positions been consistent, or have they changed. And if they have, why? Are they qualified to be making certain statements or could it be propaganda that should be weighed as such?
In as far as viewing the sitting government, it will take a special kind of scrutiny that is necessary to be made.
After all, they have been running government. They would have done a lot that impacts the mindsets of people. But what if they were not in such a position, would they still have the same agenda? The same policies? Have they been using taxpayer’s money to have an unfair advantage against other candidates and political parties? Would they have the same kind of access to funding or sponsorship if they were Opposition?
These are hard questions you will need to independently ask. You owe it to all of us to ask the pertinent questions. On the other hand, give the other political parties the same kind of scrutiny or advantages. Measure them with the same yardstick, and ask the necessary questions.
For example, are they offering better options for our people? When weighed against the leading parties candidates, how well do their candidates fare in terms of qualifications, community contributions, and national standing? If entrusted to lead our nation, are their policies likely to bring about national good?
Globally ladies and gentlemen, publicity stunts are pulled off by aspiring candidates and political parties at every election process. Often, a year before national elections, we will find all sorts of good doer’s coming out to do their bit for society.
I’ve always held the view that nation builders, leaders in our legislature should have created a history of impacting people’s lives through their actions, policies or issues they advocate for, or what they lend their names to, throughout their lifetimes!
Ladies and gentleman, the onus is on you to rise above your own selfinterests, and to view your roles, as a responsibility to humanity. To the long term stability of our nation, and to our future generations. To peace and stability.
Fiji, ladies and gentlemen, needs real leaders! Our people deserve that. So I look to all of you to be responsible. To be vigilant and to persevere, to help our people and our nation in this crucial national process.
Thomas Jefferson, who was an American Founding Father, and was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, who later served as the third President of the United States, once said: (even though he was regularly vilified by the press):
‘If I had to choose between government without (p.127) newspapers, and newspapers without government, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter’ On that note, I wish you well in your work for this upcoming 2018 elections. I take this time to also apologise on behalf of all politicians and the people of our country, if through the work you’ve vowed to do, you or your families have been caught in the cross fire and have been hurt by slurs and unnecessary or unwarranted personal attacks.
Thank you for being brave, I trust you will continue to rise above the petty attacks and cherish the special role you have in our nation.
Be your very best. Do it for yourselves and for our country and its future generations down the line!
God bless us all and God bless Fiji.
Thank you for being brave, I trust you will continue to rise above the petty attacks and cherish the special role you have in our nation. Be your very best. Do it for yourselves and for our country and its future generations down the line!