Embrace media freedom

MANY mouth the words “freedom of the media” in the same was as they murmur “law and order” or “full force of the law”.
And these phrases by now are worn to the bone of being overused.
What is the much hyped “freedom of the media”?
It is not freedom to distort, to smear reputations, to perpetuate idle gossip or to write inaccurately.
It has nothing to do with bias or the buying of media support through favours.
The power that comes with freedom gives no rights to destroy leaders without justification, nor to create false and glowing reputations for those who deserve none.
Those are the hallmarks of the very corruption and dishonesty that a genuinely free media seeks to pursue and destroy. There is nothing simple to being a member of the PNG media.
It places those who seek to practice the word game with honour in constant doubt.
Journalists with a love for their country and their people question their own writing, day in and day out.
Is it objective and accurate?
How can they manufacture a few more precious minutes to double check their facts before the deadline is upon them.
Are they losing their investigative edge and becoming just another enveloped by the self-censorship?
Where does loyalty to one’s nation begin and end and should it over-ride the responsibility to seek and broadcast or publish or televise the truth?
Governments have pursued an often rocky relationship with the media.
Our leaders are notorious for worshipping the media when it speaks well for them – but doing their level best to remove media freedoms when it criticises their actions.
Perhaps they need to consider the degree of responsibility routinely displayed by the PNG media.
All media houses almost never venture into the private lives of our leaders.
Their marriages, their mistresses, their crimes – self-censorships and a lingering respect for those who often deserve none combined to protect the reputations of our leaderships.
The time may be near when this hidden behaviour should no longer remain untouchable, for if private life begins to negatively affect the performance of public duty, then that is a matter for the public.
As long as PNG remains a democracy, our leaders exist to serve us, the people – and the media exists to keep the public accurately and responsibly informed.
We urge the public to recognise the benefits of living in a nation blessed with freedom of the media, of speech and broadcast and association.
These are the foundations of our Constitution.
Next month on May 3 will World Press Freedom Day.
The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of Unesco’s general conference.
Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
It is an opportunity to:
lCelebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
lAssess the state of press freedom throughout the world;
lDefend the media from attacks on their independence; and,
lPay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
That is something worth celebrating – and if need be, fighting for.