VENO International :: news powered by truth

VENO NEWS: OPINION:RUFAI IN THE EYES OF THE STORM : A JOURNALIST, INVESTIGATOR OR AN INDECOROUS SOUL?
Date: 03-11-23

By Sunday Olugbenga Abire

Rufai Oseni of Arise Television has enjoyed unpaid publicity arising from the many controversies he has courted in the last few months. I doubt if anyone doesn't know Rufai in Nigeria today. Some even generously likened him to Christine Amanpour, the dazzling British-Iranian journalist of the Cable News Network.

I would have resisted the urge to further heighten his moment of unrestrained publicity but my encounter with egbon Oyewamide Wande Ojo's comment on Adversarial journalism and other misconceptions is the reason for my engagement. We need to lay bare at the feet of journalism lest we allow the arguments for or against the personality of Rufai define our esteemed profession.

Who is a journalist? This question might be difficult to answer especially as it relates directly to the surge in technologies. Citizen journalism has taken the centre stage and it seems everyone with some gadgets can be a journalist. I doubt if those who belong to the conservative school of thought would define journalism in a way most of us will define it today. First, a journalist must be trained. That's incontrovertible. It doesn't matter whether you are good at writing or reading. Has Rufai received some journalistic trainings? Should we equate his experiences in the various media as his own rigorous training? What does it really take to be a trained journalist?

While in my final year at the University of Benin, Godwin JP - JesusParrot was the president of Mass Communication Student Association. He organized a program where I spoke on the topic, The Nigerian Press : Lapdog or Watchdog? Let me not bore you with details. I submitted that day that our press is both lapdog and watchdog. It only depends on who's feeding it. This is so true. I can't imagine my mentor, Femi Adesina speak or write against Buhari, how will Sam Omatseye write against Tinubu? You think MHR Donald Ojogo will write against Aketi? Or an Oyewamide Ojo's pen dripping against the government of Ondo state? How can I write against the interest I represent? Does it mean these great people do not have guts to speak against their own interest? Haven't they written copiously to clean the mess in the society? Does this reduce their worth as passionate pen pushers?

Media organizations take this form too. The reporter is the first gatekeeper. He decides what is important and not. Although, he's conscious of the in-house style and philosophy of the organization he represents, yet, he may be tempted to bring up his biases in such a ratlike and cunning manner. All is fair in war and love. It seems journalism is rooted in the idiom "he who pays the piper... And this is not a Nigerian thing but worldwide.

However, I want to respectfully disagree with Mr Oyewamide Ojo on his assertion that there is no Adversarial journalism or any theory of the press backing it up. As a young learner who has had an opportunity to be certified twice through rigorous pursuit of knowledge in the field of Mass Communication, I know for a fact that journalism that 'presses neck' exists. This kind of journalism exists to oppress the powerful. I stand to be corrected that the normative theories of the press were put forth to find a balance on a critical type of journalism like this.

Interestingly, if Rufai adopts Adversarial journalism as it's claimed, does he extend same to his 'friends' that honour his invitation? This is the moral burden he carries. His activities have put him behind the bar of unnecessary favouritism. He has his biases and his opinions are easily formed even if they are below reality, logic and facts.

How a journalist forces his opinion on his guests is what I don't know. How a journalist prods and expects you to respond in a premeditated manner is beyond journalism. How a journalist gets angry and gets personal on his program is what anyone couldn't have called Adversarial journalism. Where is the salt in asking questions when you think the right answers are only with you? Why should a trained journalist correct an impression only when it injures his friends and gawks on when it smites the common enemies?

I really do not know whether indecorous engagements are part of journalism. Prof. Marcel Anyianyiaye Okhakhu didn't teach me that brand. I didn't learn such from Dr Daniel Ekhareafo. Rufai may not be a good journalist who has internalized his trainings if he's one in the first place. Journalism and arrogance do not meet. To unearth anything with a larger picture of birthing a sane society, you must be above board. It's a serious business where your believability must not be lost on the altar of half-truths, arrogance or undue favoritism.

LINKS

Phone

Email