{"id":32362,"date":"2011-11-18T03:53:46","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T03:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sierraexpressmedia.com\/?p=32362"},"modified":"2011-11-18T03:53:46","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T03:53:46","slug":"fracturing-a-fraction-of-a-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/?p=32362","title":{"rendered":"Fracturing a fraction of a nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have been accused of being unpatriotic. \u00a0My crime is contributing articles about world issues and not a dot about my beloved country, Sierra Leone. \u00a0I have just read an article by Omar Farouk Sesay, a friend, a brother but above all, one of the eminent literary artisans of our generation. In his article, \u201cA fraction of a nation\u201d, one of the main cankerworms that has been eating into the socio-economic fabric and psyche of our country, was brilliantly illustrated for any well meaning Sierra Leonean to pause for thought. \u00a0It is true that I have not been writing on home related issues. \u00a0Without sounding derogatory, it is the same issues highlighted in Omar\u2019s article that has permeated into the life of journalism in my country. \u00a0Not everybody is guilty of this, but the ethics of journalism have been sacrificed on the altar of politicking and personal vendetta. \u00a0Ideologies, mission statements, political persuasions and many more, among others can define the configuration of a media outlet. \u00a0But lest we forget, journalism is a sacred and noble art and being a participant in journalism should be considered a privilege by anyone\u2019s standards.\u00a0 (Photo: Abdulai Mansaray, author)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Journalism has been described as the \u201cfirst rough draft of history\u201d and to some, it is history on the run.\u00a0 The role of journalism therefore, is to allow its readers to witness history and readers of fiction to live it. \u00a0Some of us have found it difficult to participate in the forum, as information is dependent on one\u2019s access to second hand information. \u00a0As we all know, such information is highly perishable; considering that you cannot always trust the messenger. \u00a0The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything; and with some journalists, conscious of this tend to behave like tradesmen-supply the demand. \u00a0In years gone by, journalism was considered as the second most dangerous job to being a mafia boss. \u00a0Under certain governments, free speech was a privilege. It was easy to see free speech become no speech-gbabang.<\/span><\/p>\n

The realisation in Sierra Leone today is that \u201cfree speech is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society\u201d. \u00a0Freedom of the press should be cherished; a people which is able to say everything becomes able to do everything. \u00a0Unfortunately, journalism is fast becoming an echo chamber of vested interests, which uses this channel to attack opponents with little substance. \u00a0Notwithstanding the fact that the media has become the battle ground for mudslinging, the trade is so infected that some journalists have virtually become literary griots for some political parties. \u00a0There is nothing wrong with trumpeting the triumphs and accomplishments of political parties, be they incumbent or in opposition; as long as they are deserving. \u00a0It is the blind loyalty and reckless pursuit of political agendas by such writers that has made them allergic and visually bankrupt to objectivity. \u00a0The state of our literary malaise is a concomitant effect that has degenerated into pervasive corruption. \u00a0It is therefore not surprising that some newspapers have resorted to engaging in personality attacks rather than dealing with issues. \u00a0This makes journalism look like organised gossip. \u00a0Reading some of these reports, you could not help but visualize clenched fists and lips bitten while the discourse is poured on their opponents – literary thuggery.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Omar\u2019s article, he focuses on the divisive nature of our country as symbolised by the five year old who, in a playground disagreement concluded that he was picked upon by his friends, simply because he was \u201ca different nation\u201d (tribe).\u00a0 You cannot get a better illustration of the current national psyche as demonstrated in Omar\u2019s article. \u00a0There is no question that such sentiments or bigotry remain entrenched in the politico-socio-economic DNA of the country, but this has been perpetrated by some media outlets to a point that it remains emblazoned in art form. \u00a0People have used journalism as an art form to turn their \u201cenemies\u201d into money. <\/span><\/p>\n

Reading through some of our Sierra Leonean newspapers, I have seen writers engaged in trading insults at one another just because they have differences of opinions. \u00a0The irony is that they embark on character assassination instead of dealing with the issues of the alternative views. \u00a0I see no reason why we should rain abuse at an individual because he or she supports another political party or has an alternative opinion. \u00a0As a democratic and free society, people should have the God -given right to choose their political affiliations without fear. \u00a0The kind of attacks I have seen in some newspapers is nothing short of literary thuggery of a plebeian persuasion.\u00a0 This kind of behaviour does not provide a healthy oasis for literary and political exercise. \u00a0A dose of attitudinal change on prescription will not go amiss here.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is very common for newspapers to have political persuasions but when it takes the kind of approach that we have come to see with media outlets like \u201cFox News\u201d, then the art is reduced to gutter journalism. \u00a0There is a new found lease of life coursing through the life of journalists in Sierra Leone. \u00a0The well meaning in the majority must not allow the miscreant few to tarnish this new found ingredient of democracy proper. \u00a0Today, Sierra Leone ranks as one of the most democratic African countries. \u00a0When neighbouring Guinea was rescued from the jaws of tribal war recently, you cannot dispute that Sierra Leonean acted as a sound board for their road to democracy; which in real terms is their first truly known form of democracy. \u00a0Just like Sierra Leone was the beacon of light for education, so should it continue to be the shining light in politics? \u00a0Journalism has a central role to play. \u00a0Some news outlets have been so blinkered that they have resorted to bare face flattery. \u00a0As long as we remember that flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver, the flatterer will live at the expense of him who listens to him. \u00a0Adulation is not displeasing but can induce one to lie. We are all motivated by a keen desire to praise, and the better a man is, the more he is inspired to glory. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is nothing wrong with praising others for their good deeds. \u00a0President Koroma has done so much in so short space of time that he deserves all the praise he gets. \u00a0I am not running to get my banjo to serenade him. \u00a0Let\u2019s leave that for the conventions. \u00a0This is more so when you compare how far we have come as a country in both international and national circles. \u00a0From health, transportation, infrastructure etc. \u00a0But if you ask the President today, he will be the first to admit that more needs to be done and that he is determined to do so. \u00a0Unquestionably, there have been mistakes that could be corrected. \u00a0These can only be achieved if highlighted. Highlighting such gaps should not be seen as opportunities to settle scores but for the general goal and good of the nation as a whole; not a \u201cfraction of a nation\u201d. \u00a0\u201cThink not those faithful who praise all your words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults\u201d (Socrates); emphasis on \u201ckindly\u201d. The highest praise for a person is to give them responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Journalism as a concept must serve as a barometer of society and thermometer of public opinion. \u00a0To serve this purpose, the press needs to think of the general good. \u00a0These writers should not forget that journalists are to politicians as lamp posts to dogs.\u00a0 Without telling you that the Pope is catholic, the political topography has been ridiculously reduced on tribal lines. \u00a0The origin of Sierra Leone\u2019s political parties can be traced to tribal origin, using carbon dating technology. \u00a0This is the 21st<\/sup>. Century and as a people, we need to fossilise and archive those tribal finds to the museums. \u00a0We are still living witnesses to the stagnating influence such retrogressive attitudes can have on development. \u00a0If my village gets street lights, I am not keen on whether it was APC, SLPP, or PPP. \u00a0As long as it was a Sierra Leone government. \u00a0Those in question should remember that presidents reign for four years, and journalism governs forever and ever. \u00a0Journalist should owe their loyalty to the people they aim to inform, educate and entertain; they never change. \u00a0Politicians, political parties and ideologies come and go but the people remain. <\/span><\/p>\n

I must add that this is not a blanket view of our body journalese. \u00a0There are suggestively some bad apples there who need to go back to re-discover the reasons why they started writing in the first place. \u00a0The Sierra Leone model is not perfect but by comparison, not many African countries can boast of the level of the freedom of press we enjoy. \u00a0Try Zimbabwe for starters. Remember that a free press is not a privilege, but an organic necessity in a great society. \u00a0Thomas Jefferson once said that \u201cwhenever people are well informed they can be trusted with their own government\u201d. Let\u2019s use it, not abuse it; for if we do, we may be refused it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Do something good for Sierra Leone today: <\/span><\/p>\n

Just be a SIERRA LEONEAN; not Mende, Limbo, Kono, Loko, Temne, Sherbro, Yalunka, Kissi, Fullah, Krio, Madingo, KRU, Vai, Koranko, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please turn the lights off; if you are the last man in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have been accused of being unpatriotic. \u00a0My crime is contributing articles about world issues and not a dot about my beloved country, Sierra Leone. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[671,692,1],"tags":[1780,10806,937],"class_list":["post-32362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-politics","category-uncategorized","tag-freedom-of-speech","tag-patrotism","tag-sierra-leone-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32362"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32362\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}