Kenneth Eade once said "Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry to survive, Your Honor. Besides the advancement of truth, science and morality in general, the freedom of the press is a backbone of democracy. It exists to keep the government transparent, and the human instruments of government honest.”
Like it or not a day with out a news in the papers and televisions is like a day in the wilderness in today's world.This is because media has been use as a powerful communication tool in which the 'whistle blowers' speak for the majority maligned masses of people.
To this day,media has become so influential to a point it dictates our lives through various doctrines and creeds that creep the human brain in accordance with choice of media.
In an African context ,we have generally thought of the private media as one that speaks for the many voices whose access to state supervised media equals zero in most cases.
However,to those who sympathize with the government private media is seen as a tool for those in opposition to promote dissent and disapproval of those in government.
It can only then take logic and objectivity to read in between the lines of what role private media has a role to play in Zambia especially that as a nation we align all decision to politics.
In the aftermath of the highly contested elections on August 11,2016 with incumbent Edgar Lungu being eventually declared as winner,we have witnessed an ugly side regionalism and media propaganda from all social media to the traditional media.
The independent Broadcasting Authority has drawn its 'first blood' blood since inception by suspending broadcast licenses for Muvi TV,Komboni Radio as well Itezhi Tezhi Fm for what they have termed as unprofessional conduct.
One may want to argue that it is against media freedom or any dissenting views from the governments point of view. Wether misuse of freedom of the press or fight against media freedom,there is need for us to strike a balance and have a vibrant press.
But like Aysha Taryam said Freedom of the press can never be the licence to say anything one desires. Freedom of the press is not the freedom to slander and attack and must never be used to fight other people’s wars. It does not mean manipulating a story into speaking your views. One might think it common sense but in the world of journalism a lot of what makes sense is lost to the lure of favoritism, greed and fame.
Sadly, in this truth-telling business truth is hard to find.
