In December 2013 the Synopsis group on Facebook introduced a new programme called Synopsis Engagement. The monthly, capacity-building programme enables members to interact with past and present leaders (of public and private institutions and other non-governmental organizations), social commentators and other distinguished individuals, to discuss issues that boarder on development, good governance, economics, politics and socio-cultural issues. It is also a chance for these leaders to get feedback from these young Nigerians. The programme is an offshoot of the Tuesday Forum that ran for 13+4 weeks on my Facebook wall, where the contents of published materials by individuals were tabled and discussed in the light of contemporary issues that challenged participants and our nation. On December 15, 2013, we hosted Dr. Emman Usman Shehu as our first guest. Dr. Shehu is the Director of International Institute of Journalism in Abuja and he was the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors Abuja.
Given his vast experience in diverse fields as a writer, a journalist and a technocrat, the engagement turned out to be an immensely enriching experience. I intend to share with you some of Dr. Shehu’s responses to questions he entertained. I hope we will learn from them.
Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa, A UAE-based public commentator: Though I am not a journalist, I believe exhaustive and factual investigative journalism is the most effectively tool to promote and encourage transparency and accountability in governance, which in turn are the best tools to prevent and fight corruption. Nevertheless, there is unmistakable scarcity of this form of journalism in Nigeria. What are the factors responsible for this situation, and how does the IIJ or any other relevant body promote and encourage it among Nigerian journalists?
Shehu: As you have rightly pointed out, Investigative Journalism can promote and encourage transparency and accountability in governance. The nature of the profession itself is hinged on investigation. Every reporter does some form of investigation to put together a story. However, investigative journalism is a specialism which is evolving appropriate operational models.
Successful investigative journalism depends on some critical factors. First, it requires a specialized unit within a media house to ensure consistency. Second, investigative reporters require a certain level of skills akin to those of detectives. Third, access to records and willing reliable sources makes a whole lot of difference. Fourth, accepting that a broad range of issues should be scrutinized, not just the obvious and seemingly big ones of electoral rigging and bribery in awarding government contracts.
Journalists play a pivotal role in our battle against corruption. Based on the economic realities of our clime, very few journalists wouldn’t succumb to the temptations of the ‘brown envelope’, thereby abusing journalistic ethics.
Can this practice really be curtailed or are we just to accept that the corrupt highest bidder would always find a pen available for hire?
Shehu: The image of corruption in journalism and the media is symbolized by the “Brown Envelope”. This negative aspect of journalism is a global issue and has manifested itself in various forms at various times. Most stakeholders in various countries recognise the danger this portends for the society and make the necessary effort to curb such unhealthy practices.
In Nigeria there are varying efforts to curtail this negative practice by stakeholders. The Newspaper Proprietors for instance have decided to regular publish notifications in their publications to discourage the public from compromising their staff. Some media organizations also forbid their staff from joining Beat Associations because of the belief that it is through those associations that the “brown envelopes” are regularly given. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) too frequently states that practitioners should uphold the ethics of the profession.
But there has to be something more far-reaching than the approaches that have been taken so far. The situation of course is fuelled by the poor remuneration in the industry, and the attitude of some media owners who encourage staff to augment their income in ways they deem fit. It is commonly alleged that a major publisher who has a proven track-record of owing staff, at some point told them that he has already given them a meal-ticket by providing them with identity cards.
No one can tell our stories better than us. However a writer uses the language that he can conveniently express himself in. That does not imply that every Nigerian writer is at ease with the English language. It is necessary to note that publishing is highly-driven by economics. Every publication is an investment with no guarantee of profit and most publishers are very careful about the number of titles they publish in a year, hoping that at least one title will be successful enough to defray their capital outlay within that period. This factor has made publishing in English a burdensome necessity. The other problem too is that our writers have not been encouraged to explore thematic realities that capture the reality of our existence. Writers to could argue right back that the publishers have not provided a healthy clime for such meaningful explorations.
The situation points to the fact that our book industry is not properly structured, like most things in Nigeria, and this adversely affects the development of our literature in indigenous languages.
