You still have the public trust, don’t betray it

A recent report by the Ombudsman’s office surprisingly revealed that the members of the public view the media as one of the least corrupt institutions – at 9.3 percent as opposed to traffic police’s 60.1 percent or judiciary’s 49.9. From the report, probably the most controversial piece of work by Mzee Tito Rutaremera in his position as Ombudsman, the public finds the media less corrupt than even religious-based groups (rated at 14.4 percent). With all due respect, while it’s everyone’s right to doubt the content of the report, it is prudent to first crosscheck internally with a genuine aim of finding out why people view you the way they do. Giving the Ombudsman the benefit of the doubt and responding with a thorough self-assessment, is a good beginning point. We may debate the appropriateness of the respondents but a negative perception in the eyes of the citizens is sufficient reason to take remedial/preventive action. The 9.3 percent score appears to have surprised everyone, including journalists themselves. One journalist admitted he was shocked that the media was perceived to be less corrupt. This because of the many suspected corruption cases involving journalists we have witnessed recently. And, of course, the high numbers of defamatory stories we continue to see in vernacular newspapers. In its 2008 State of the media report, the Media High Council indicated public complaints against media outlets had dropped. It remains unclear whether the fall represents improved observance of the law and professional ethics on the part of journalists, or whether people have simply got tired of lodging complaints. Nonetheless, it should come as good news to media practitioners that the public has a favourable perception of them. The Ombudsman’s report is a vote of confidence in our media-the current professional and financial challenges facing it, notwithstanding. It’s a report in which the people remind the media: you are our watchdogs, keep away from corruption! However, that public trust comes with responsibility. It puts even more pressure on journalists, not only to inform, educate and entertain Rwandans in a professional way, but also to lead exemplary lives. A corrupt journalist has no moral authority to expose corruption. Journalists should shun such acts as soliciting and taking ‘giti’ (term used in media circles to mean money – disguised as transport – given to journalists by organizers of conferences, workshops), and ‘kugurisha inkuru’ (extorting money from someone threatening to publish a story that is against him or her). Many people, including journalists, have argued that ‘giti’ facilitates them to do their job better. That ‘transport’ money – usually Frw5000 or Frw10, 000 per journalist – compromises the conscious of the reporter who receives it. In the end, the content in our newspapers or radio and TV news is decided by PROs. By engaging in such acts you will have let down the public trust. munyanezason@yahoo.com