Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Magda Fahsi on December 1, 2010 at 20:22

Well isn'it to us, journalists, to try and change things ? Aren't we supposed to defend the public interest? To denounce abuses ? You sound very pessimistic; why not try and change things instead of simply criticize them? Why not go against the trend, if you feel there is one?

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on December 1, 2010 at 23:09

there are important things in life, support, encouragement, enthusiasm, and intention. i have experienced discrimination operating in a muslem city as a christian. the fact of the matter is that the society shy away from important things that seek to correct the rot in there. there several journalists who went out to give voice to the voiceless but never succeeded because they could not get the needed support, encouragement to carry on.
That's why "we" take easy ways. we have ability to influence change, but we sometimes do it with an intention.

Permalink Reply by Emma Brewin on December 7, 2010 at 15:20

I agree that journalists' responsibilities need to be redefined in the digital era. How can we do this? And how can we promote responsibility in newer content channels and platforms like blogs, Twitter or other citizen media tools?

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on December 8, 2010 at 10:02

Hmm! Blogging and digital era! journalism is fading away and lots of people are now into blogging and use of digital media. they even out numbered journalists. my point is if the use of digital media and blogging and other social networks are taking over by non journalists but people who want to champion their causes thro these, it would be impossible for journalists to promote responsibility in newer content. people arent interested these days what is published professionally but like "valgar" materials. we can and must intensify efforts anyway.

Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Reidpath on January 12, 2011 at 22:34

Npong, I think there is a big difference between racism and religious beliefs.

Multimedia opens up a whole new world with the explicitly violent games inciting hatred and racism on all manner of gaming consoles. The internet is largely responsible for the same type of prejudice because it is all so readily available and even worse, it targets our young. Too much propaganda ends up on the internet and anybody who bears a grudge against that specific target will seek out ways to further their opinions.

In the Middle East the religious war has been going on for centuries. It is a hatred born long ago and is not about to die out any time soon, we have all seen that. It gets worse because there is too much ammunition out there to fuel the hatred. It is too dangerous for journalists to go to those places any more, although some risk life and limb to do so because they need to see the facts first hand so they can write about them truthfully.

Discrimination is everywhere, whites against blacks and vice versa, religion against religion - it never ends. It never will end. This is the way of the world and when we try to report the facts as journalists we are accused of being discriminate or collaborators. There is no middle ground. It is one or the other.

Certain religions have morphed into racial aggression and religion is now being used as an excuse to further motivate the violence. Those aggressors need to keep having that reason to justify to themselves that discrimination and violence is okay. When we as journalists see that happening we report what we see, nothing more. The level of anger is so great with these protagonists that we are seen as the silent enemy, shooting our bullets instead at the reading public and spoiling their 'Grand Plan'. They all have a Grand Plan or they wouldn't still be doing what they are doing.

Racism is something we can either take on board personally or not. It works both ways, not just one against the other.

I disagree that is it is a selfish interest; I think it is showing a responsible interest to a journalist's duty to report the facts as they stand.

 

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on January 13, 2011 at 7:37

@Jacqueline; i like your argument well said. However, the fact still remains that Journalists are humans despite their professional training to uphold truth always somehow sometime they do compromise this truth. There are extremists among journalists who would and have compromised the truth, facts and went to the defense of senselessly religious, cultural and social acts of society. 

i am mindful not to cite an example of extremism in journalism by journalists but the fact still stands write in defense of senseless socio-cultural and religious acts though we know and aware we are supposed to tell the truth always. 

Compare same cultural and religious reports from CNN, BBC, Fox news, Al-jazeera among others and you would notice how "selfish" journalists could be. these day defence has replaced responsible journalism because they no we have compromised onetime or the other. 

 

Permalink Reply by Magda Fahsi on January 13, 2011 at 14:08

Jacqueline, in the Middle East, it is NOT about religious wars; it is all about politics; power and politics and influence and occupation. And politics using religion as an excuse. But religion has nothing to do with it.

As for some religions being racist, yes, they all have been at one stage or another, at one period of history or another: remember white missionnaries pretending some people had no soul ? Remember white missionnaries saying they woud bring 'civilisation' to 'savages', just because they did not live or think the same way? Isn't that simply about being arrogant and thinking you are the only one who is right?

But religion is like politics; essentially a tool or an excuse used by people to further their own interests. But we are not obliged to believe their excuses.

Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Reidpath on January 13, 2011 at 19:32

Magda - I think we will have agree to disagree on this point. Religion has everything to do with what is going on in the Middle East. It is the basis on which Middle Eastern people think; Islam is the way of life in designated countries and therefore is their excuse for relentlessly trying to gain power.

Religion is also about preaching as well.

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on January 13, 2011 at 22:28

the discussion is becoming more interesting. the argument is that religious seems to be dictating the way we should live. some of the religious laws though were made for the people at the time the modern human race is forcing this on society creating problems, real conflict because of what one or other beliefs.

power is power and religious is  no  exceptional. the point here is what can journalists do to eradicate global discrimination? either political, religious or social.

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on February 4, 2011 at 15:31

Religion seems to be an easier means of grabbing power and people have used that to their own advantage. 

what role is religion playing in issues relating Egypt political upheaval and how has media projected this?

 

Permalink Reply by Npong Balikawu Francis on February 9, 2011 at 7:52

Would people of Libya follow footsteps of Tunisia, Egypt, Serbia with uprising?

Why were journalists and human rights activities brutally targeted in Egypt's uprising?