Reporters, editors, columnists and independence of the media

A reporter gathers facts and information on an event of importance or interest to the public.

He is required to do that impartially and to tell the story as objectively and accurately as humanly possible.

When a reporter fails to do that, if he lets the news source or other interests influence his reporting, he compromises the independence of the media and deserves to be fired.

The editor keeps a check on the reporter, making sure he remains faithful to honest journalism.

He also decides what is to be published and, in many cases, with the assistance of sub-editors, re-writes and re-arranges the story filed by the reporter to ensure it is readable, accurate, fair and balanced.

NEWS PRODUCTION
In a large news organisation like Nation Media Group (NMG), there are several editors who, under the editor-in-chief, are responsible for the content of various platforms and sections such as business, health and sports, both print and electronic.

Like the reporter, the editor who does not do his job as he should deserves to be fired.

This is just a simplified narrative of the process of journalism.

In-between, there are many other actors and players — such as the news or assignment editor, who decides which events are to be covered and by who; the photographer, who captures the images that accompany stories; and the graphics designer, who works on the visuals of the news presentation.

COLUMNIST
The columnist is a different animal, however. He is paid for his own opinions and insights.

While he is expected to offer his opinions based on accurate information and facts, he is not held to the same high standards of accuracy as reporters and editors.

He has more latitude and licence. He is not constrained by the rules of impartiality and objectivity that govern reporters and editors.

He can write just about anything he pleases. The editor only makes sure his writing is within the bounds of good taste and decency and does not violate editorial policy or the law of libel.

The independence of the media is a function of that process of journalism. It is determined by reporters and editors, not columnists.

INDEPENDENCE

Columnists can only bask in the sunshine of that independence. They cannot bestow independence to a news organisation. They can only benefit from it.

I was intrigued by the eight columnists who, as a group, withdrew their services so as not to bestow credibility to NMG as an independent news organisation.

Their argument seems to be that certain journalists have been fired by NMG at the behest of the government. So, they say, NMG is not independent.

The columnists are giving their opinion or interpretation of events; they did not give any concrete evidence.

Their resignation gives the wrong impression of what constitutes the independence of press — which is to be found in the way the media reports and presents news and information, not by who gets fired.

READERS

Freedom of the media, which is guaranteed in our Constitution, also implies discretion of the media owners to hire and fire as they wish, subject, of course, to the Employment Act.

The statement issued by the columnists on Tuesday is titled “We refuse to be silenced” — giving the impression that they have been silenced by NMG, which is not the case.

The reasons they gave suggest that there is another unspoken reason for their groupthink.

Several readers have suggested what the eight have in common is “political activism” but I do not see how that should lead to group resignation since they had individual contracts.

Other readers have suggested that they have an inflated ego that makes them think their opinions are critical to the credibility of NMG and if they withdraw their “patronage” the credibility will melt away.

Still others have reacted by offering their services as columnists.

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