Social Activist, Esther Ijewere on Friday, July 9, had a tweet chat #GetTalkingWithEsther with Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin on the theme Freedom of Speech and its impact on the media.
The question and answer session is reproduced below
People say freedom of speech is guaranteed but freedom after speech isn’t guaranteed, with the realities of the 21st century, would you say that line of thought is valid?
Former Ugandan President, Idi Amin was actually the one who said there is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech. While he was honest to leave no one in doubt about what he was not comfortable with, the actions of many leaders of today, who pretend to be committed to upholding tenets of freedom of speech, confirms that they are not.
The thought is valid to the extent that many have paid dearly for exercising the freedom guaranteed in the constitution. While freedom of speech is supposed to be exercised with a sense of responsibility, governments at various levels have not been as accommodating as they should of the rights of the citizens to exercise their freedom of speech.
What does freedom of speech really mean?
It means freedom of individuals to express their views, opinion, thoughts and ideas on any issues without being restrained by any law, regulation or fear of repercussion or being muzzled.
Chapter 4, Section 39: Right to freedom of expression and the press
Subsection 1: Everyone shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without hindrance
Subsection 2: Without prejudice to the generality of subsection 1 of this section, every person shall be entitled to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions based on the conditions
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.
The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without government interference or regulation. … The right to free speech includes other mediums of expression that communicate a message.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Is respect for freedom of speech is an essential element for functioning and accurate media?
This is true. Without freedom of speech, the media may not be able to disseminate the views or that of others on any issue. Sources and other authorised persons will be reluctant to speak to the media. The media will not be able to get the information it needs.
Where do we draw the line on freedom of speech bearing in mind that the media can and has been used to propagate falsehood and spread unconfirmed news that instils fear and panic in the minds of people?
The dividing line is that freedom of speech is not a licence for anyone or media organisation to say or publish what they should not. As I noted earlier, the freedom guaranteed is supposed to be exercised with a sense of responsibility.
Professional Media content is supposed to be based on truth, fairness and being objective. There are views expressed by people which the media should not publish or broadcast if they violate basic principles of the ethics of the profession or media law. Freedom should not be abused.
The media or individual can be liable for libel if the information is libellous
The recent ban on Twitter by the FG has raised concerns by the different schools of thought both considering the positives and negatives of Twitter. As a journalist, what would you say about this?
The suspension without mincing words is overkill. It is a case of giving a dog a bad name to hang it.
While the government may be concerned about some of the content by some persons, suspension of the operation of the microblogging site is the height of high handedness by a supposed democratic administration.
The government says its action was not based on the deleting of tweets by President Buhari, but it’s clear that what the government has done is to abuse the powers it has to suspend Twitter just to shut down voices of dissent, not minding the implications of its action for many Nigerians and organisation that use Twitter for professional and business purpose.
There are legitimate ways of calling any medium to order, including legislation and policies which a democratic government should resort to in situations like this instead of allowing our country to be categorized along with some of the most repressive countries in the world.
Why did you choose to be a journalist?
I believe God has a purpose for his creation and for me, journalism is what I was made for and I’m glad I am one. My father I would say might have unknowingly prepared me for a career in journalism with his interest in reading newspapers which I bought for him and read voraciously.
I have no regret being a journalist. Like any profession, it has its good and bad times, but in all, I cherish the opportunity to be the voice of the voiceless and be able to hold the government accountable to the people.
Journalism has taken me around the world. I met people and been to places.
Advice for aspiring journalists
They are welcome. Journalism is a necessary profession and anyone should be proud to be one.
They need to know that beyond having requisite certificates, they need to be very passionate and have flair for the work. It is a knowledge-based job and not for people who don’t like reading and writing.
In what ways has freedom of speech impacted the media?
It has enabled the media to play its expected role of informing, educating and entertaining the audience. The freedom allows the media to hold the government and its officials accountable to the people.
There are some abuses by mainly none professionals, especially now that just anyone claims to be a journalist.
What role can the media play in ensuring that their freedom is of speech is not compromised or misused?
First, they need to know the freedom they have within the limits of the law, exercise and insist on it.
The media should not be intimidated by governments or individuals who want to deny them their rights.
The media however has to be professional and abide by the ethics of the profession.
How can social media users use their freedom responsibly?
They should exercise it responsibly and not abuse it. They should be civil in what they post online and abide by the ethics of responsible online engagements.
