This is one of the ethics when it comes to news casting. They believe that the citizens should not know what will cause more harm than good. This is the reason why we get only what the radio stations or television stations feel that is best for us.
Most television stations goes around pick all the news they can lay their hands on, come back to their stations and shift it to suit the public. I know some times they may even lie to to make sure that the public does not know the real situation of things. But how has that helped us in this country? Especially in Nigeria where things goes back every day. Has it helped to bring us out of the problem, or has it further pushed us into more problems? This is where I am having problems.
I was privileged to go for a one month studies with a radio stations that resides in Akwanga just because I was curious and wanted to know more about what happens in there. After that training my eyes opened and I came to see things from the way I should see it. In that radio stations, they are known for saying the truth the way it is. One of our slogan is - SAY IT THE WAY IT IS. Now for a very long time I have known this radio station and I love the way the truth is said there without looking at faces. But of course we know that it is a private radio station. A radio station that is owned by the government will always say it the way and manner that it will suit the government and now the public. They are just after their own interest. If it will benefit them, then you will get to hear that news, but if it will not benefit them forget about that news.
One of the area that I love what the government radio station is doing is when there is war. We hardly get to know the number of people who lost their lives in such situation because they are trying to save the public more harm. Though some times it is good, but I believe that it does us bad sometimes too. Why I said so is because when a family lost someone during a war break out, they should be told so that they can get prepared for reality. If they get to know it exactly as it is, then maybe it will save some further stress for the family.
Take for example a woman whose husband died in a battle field as a military officer. He is long forgotten by his colleagues because they know that he is gone. But his family is still waiting for his return even after two or three months of his dead. Sometimes it even get to six months and the family don't know about it. They still believe that he is in the battle field. This in particular in not good even for the family. They should by now forget about him and move on, but still their hopes are raised hoping that one day he will come back.
I know of a very sad situation in my place. This handsome young man went to represent his country in a battle. Died there and buried but his family never knew anything about his death. His wife kept seeing her husband in a dream telling her to pray for him because he doesn't know where he is. She kept asking questions about her husband and no one was telling her anything. It took them time to let her know that her husband was gone. That was for me unnecessary. If she knew it at the right time, she will mourn him and forget about him and move on.
In conclusion, I believe that the whole truth should be told to the public because they deserve to know the truth. You prepare them to face the reality of things when they are told the truth. But when we keep hidden the truth from the public it causes more harm than good in my own opinion.
This post was inspired by the hive learners community contest for week 124, edition 1: 247 News
All the images used in this post belongs to me.
