In the Cambridge dictionary online, a search for tolerance shows the first response as “willingness to accept behaviours and beliefs that are different from your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them.” It even places a synonym of acceptance to that definition and as an example says: “This period has not been noted for religious tolerance.” Looking through several other dictionaries, one thing is constant, the willingness to accept and give a chance for differing views or beliefs even though one doesn’t conform to them, is retained as a fundamental understanding of the word tolerance in modern times.
What brings us to this exposition about the issue of tolerance are the issues arising from a certain report put forth by the Adhikr Press Organization where words that toed on the lines of being derogatory were used to describe a certain Christian organisation who was alleged of purposefully baiting Muslim freshers to attend a Church event. While the focus here is not to fully go into the nitty-gritty of the issue flogged in that report, or take side with either of these organisations or even paint one as the villain, as the mother body of press organisations on campus, the union has a responsibility to address concerns arising from this report. One is the issue raised in the Cambridge dictionary example, that in this period, there has not been so much religious tolerance, and the other is to remind campus journalists of ethical standards that is required at all times in the discharge of their duties.
Journalistic principles.
A person aiming at a pun once said: “Rules are lines ruled out to lead our steps alright.” Whether this was a pun there is not, one thing though is that the above statement could pass as an aphorism – a simple statement embodying a profound truth or principle.
Each entity, know matter how little, is guided by certain principles which govern its actions. From the photon by the law of quantum mechanics to even the carefree man by his resolve to be effortfully lackadaisical, all that truly exists on earth is guided by a rule. In line with this, each occupation and the conduct of persons in every facet of life are tightly or loosely governed by rules including those formally and explicitly laid down and those more subtle and informally consensus rules that define norms.
Now just the way it is an aberration to see a doctor come online to gossip about his patients with their full identity and no respect for their confidentiality or a soldier parading himself like any ordinary civilian would, so it is becoming a concern on some practices that are now becoming commonplace among campus journalists in the university of Ibadan which needs to be addressed.
These days, It is not uncommon to hear that some pressmen are openly biased towards a certain interest group and use their platforms to promote the propaganda of such interests. From certain press bodies reducing themselves to the press release arm of their association, to pressmen allowing themselves to be used in interest wars like in politicking. There are even cases of pressmen indulging in the deplorable act of preparing their friends who are politicians with questions before the press night, and by different means also tries to influence the process to favour their anointed candidate. You even have cases of pressmen in LPOs who are carefree to actively campaign for a preferred candidate putting up their flyers on their WhatsApp status and other platforms available to them.
Aside from the political side, some also let other personal interest whatsoever, from religion to ethnic affiliation, to other organisational affiliations, guide their pen such that they covertly write in high lauds of these affiliations and cover for the misgiving of these organisations because they think they find themselves in a position to do so. All this is devoid of the responsible journalism that’s expected of campus journalists. As pressmen in various LPOs, you exist essentially to serve as watchdogs in your confined areas and by extension, do public interest journalism at all times. The call is to the public and regardless of the affiliations or interests as individuals, objectivity and fairness in campus journalists conduct is not something that can be excused, not even for once.
By the virtue of the calling and being members of the Fourth Estate, there are also ethics and principles which are binding on all the conducts and actions as pressmen. It is very unethical to know these binding rules and still default at wish. For instance, as a religious press organisation, while the conduct of the organisation is largely determined by the authority of the entire society, the pressmen in that organisation needs to realise that fundamentally they still have a responsibility to always conform with the ethics of the profession. Being a religious press is not an excuse, in any way, to abandon the professionalism expected of the organisation.
While it’s also understandable that protecting the interest of members of this religious group is paramount, publishing a report that cannot in any way be regarded as evidence-based reporting, is by all standards unacceptable. At the very least, what these revealed is that the organisation has reduced itself to letting religious biases cloud their judgement and affect their reportage of issues, which if not addressed, could be instigating violence stylishly — Going on to make unsubstantiated comments and conclusions, using demeaning language for characters in stories, and by so doing also asking spurious and malicious questions is very out of place for good reporting.
As guardians of the conduct of others in society, the first responsibility that campus journalists have is to the truth and this must always be at the forefront of the work that LPOs churn out. A maxim asks: “Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes”, loosely translated to ‘who would guide the custodians.’ As custodians, even as press organisations serve as a watchdog in the society, campus journalists also have a bigger responsibility to be dutiful in their dealing at all times.
The Union takes strong exceptions to all such conducts which does not guarantee responsible journalism and would comply if need be to take disciplinary actions on press bodies or press members found in contravention of the ethics and principles guiding journalism. “May the power which is ours, for good or ill, always be used with honesty and courage, with respect and integrity” even as the press prayer says is not a mere statement for formality, it serves as a form of a creed that summarises our values as pressmen.
On Tolerance
Diversity is commonly said to be the spice of life and if truly one want that spice to properly harmonise and make a delicious soup of life, then tolerance must be encouraged among the various condiments that find themselves part of that soup.
From the various instances of conflicts and wars that the human race has witnessed or witnessing at the moment, it sends a strong signal that as a basic appeal to human beings, it is not out of place to be religious but it becomes a problem when it’s being used as tool, taken to the extreme with no place for allowance of good communal relationships with people especially those that belong elsewhere. Like salt trying to overpower other spices in the soup when it is added in excess, it would affect the good harmony expected to be enjoyed.
As a non-aligned organisation, for context, the Union is not out to teach the ways to particularly go about worship in religious gathering, but then in the instance that the tool being used to raise concerns is the press, it behoves on the union to remind members of the campus journalism community and stakeholders in various interest groups that in discharging these duties, evidence based reporting is paramount. It doesn’t matter if it’s a religious press or other social groups, because it’s journalism, objectivity in raising these concerns and by extension, pointing fingers is demanded at all times.
Moreso, another narrative one must refrain from creating in readers’ minds is extremism. The content of the said publication could easily be summed up to be a result of hostility and can subtly breed friction between her members and the other religious group, but there are better ways to tell that story without deliberately using words in an unethical way. Even more within the intellectual community that the University is, it is also expected that as intellectuals there is the recognition that much of the academic freedom and advancement that various individuals enjoy today was birthed from the ability to reasonably hold different views without inciting or pointing fingers unnecessarily. Even when it’s required, soundness of arguments and objectivity remains the priority. By this token, it is also expected that going forward concerned individuals and stakeholders at various quarters approach issues in a professional way, and the press is not for them to be used to instigate violence or push agenda. The implication is that this would be creating a volatile situation that does not tell well for even the groups involved no matter the affiliation in the long run.
Finally, since it’s a known fact that matters of religion can easily get all tangled up, it would also be in the interest of the leadership of various religious groups to always make as clear as possible the nature of all events to avoid conflict of interest like this. However, when there are situations that demand the protection of the interest of members in these groups, addressing them peacefully and not resorting to use the press in a manner that becomes inflammatory is mandatory.
