JOURNALISM OF THE BELLY IS UNPRINCIPLED 45

“THE

pen is mightier than the sword” is a metonymic adage, penned by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, indicating that communication (particularly written language), or in some interpretations, administrative power or advocacy of an independent press, is a more effective tool than direct violence.

But there is also a contrasting statement which says: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun, a phrase which was coined by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. ... A portion of the 1938 speech was excerpted and included in Mao’s Selected Works, with the title “Problems of War and Strategy.”

Over the years, the earlier statement made by Edward Bulwer Lytton one hundred years before the start of the Second World War proved more stronger than that which was made by Chairman Mao

years

Century.

The leader of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler recognised the importance of communication and he had a ministry dedicated to propaganda. He realised that propaganda was important to encourage his troops while also demoralising the opposing armies throughout World War Two.

The principle applies to modern politics and that is why politicians strive to control the media. It is for this reason that I was not surprised by the revelation by the owner of Muvi Studios Mr Steve Nyirenda that the UPND president, Mr Hakainde Hichilema had abused his station during the last Presidential and General Elections.

For some of us, Mr Nyirenda was only confirming what we already knew. The type of news coverage by Muvi Studios was very suspect and this included the way the presidential debate was conducted.

Additionally, some of us had searched the records and PACRA and the records showed a link between Muvi Studios and some other shareholders. Obviously proxies were used by the UPND to have controlling power over the station.

Similarly, there is suspicious connection between the UPND and Radio Phoenix. Proxies have been used to buy the station. I confirmed this when I appeared on the Let the People Talk Programme in 2016. The moderator announced two land line phones on which callers would reach us.

When the time came to open the lines, not a single caller got through on the landlines but calls were received on the moderator’s mobile phone which was not advertised when we were on the air. All the callers were known UPND cadres. Such conduct by a journalist can only happen with the full consent of the station owners.

There is also evidence that two or three politicians own newspapers in this country. This ownership can be seen from the stories and editorials from the two or three newspapers. It is unfortunate that we have a situation where journalists have agreed to be controlled by politicians. There is no problem with journalists choosing to support a politician or political party, but it is wrong for journalists to be controlled by politicians.

In a discussion I had with one senior journalist, a comparison was made with the American situation where Fox News supports Donald Trump and CNN criticises the American president every day of the month.

This is a good example because it shows independent journalism. Neither President Trump nor the leader of the

Democratic Party own the two stations. Fox News and CNN differ on ideologies; one is conservative while the other represents liberal America.

We then looked at Britain which has a public broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Everyone will agree that the BBC is an independent broadcaster which is built on the true principles of journalism.

The BBC provides coverage fairly, for the Britons at least. BBC will even expose government mistakes and scandals in the interest of the British people. The American and British examples are a good yardstick which journalists must emulate. When information or stories are too biased, they alienate the readers and listeners. This has happened to the dull interviews of one politician. When people realise that a radio station or newspaper has become a “vuvuzela,” they lose confidence in that station or publication. A good media outlet must inform, educate and entertain. If the only thing you publish or broadcast are negative stories about certain individuals or institution all the time, you will end up costing your sponsors support from the groups to whom the individual belongs. In good journalism we say; “write the vision, make it plain upon the tablets, so he may run he who reads it.” That means that you should publish well researched stories with defensible proof. It does not augur well for a newspaper to see corruption only one side of the political spectrum. Such biased journalism is unprincipled journalism of the belly. It brings chaos in the country and good journalists must speak against it. As Albert Einstein said; “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

Yours truly

Troubleshooter

ecchipalo@ yahoo. co. uk/ pentvision@gmail.com/ecchipalo@icloud.com

When the time came to open the lines, not a single caller got through on the landlines but calls were received on the moderator’s mobile phone which was not advertised when we were on the air. All the callers were known UPND cadres. Such conduct by a journalist can only happen with the full consent of the station owners.