In democratic governance, it is said and it is actually so, the media is the fourth estate of the realm, coming after the three traditional arms of government namely the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Each estate of the realm has its functions to perform especially in keeping the public peace for the ultimate benefit of societal members.
The media plays or is required to play a watchdog role, checking on how the first three estates of the realm perform their duties. In doing so, the media unmasks happenings in society through information, education, and fostering of debate to initiate a national discourse. If the media constitute an indispensable aspect of good governance in a democratic dispensation, then mustn’t frantic efforts be made to eschew partisan journalism?
Basically, partisan journalism or partisan press refers to the presentation or publication of little or no legitimately well-researched news. Most often than not, the reason behind partisan journalism is to hyperbolically create sensationalism and engage in rumour mongering.
In doing so, dramatized and eye-catching banner headlines are phrased just to sell the news. In most cases, it is mendaciously reported that efforts to seek for other views before going to press proved abortive.
In view of the fact that the media can make and unmake both society and individuals, items or phenomena penned down for publication in the traditional media must be well researched.
One may thus assert with a significant margin of certainty that the media are a two-edged sword hence must be carefully handled especially in this time of our election.
Society often believes media publications whether or not such publications are wholly true. Therefore, partisan journalism must not be given a space in media practice for the December 4 presidential election. It should not be lost on us that lingered and entrenched civil wars in certain parts of the world were sparked and fuelled by their journalistic reportages.
Partisan journalism is not only unprofessional but also unethical and it has negative consequences for society and individuals who fall victims to it.
Media practice in The Gambia is often described as vibrant and very much so, it is. Something is vibrant when that thing is full of energy and life. The media in Gambia are described as vibrant because they are enthusiastic and very alert in what they do. Such an attitude to professionalism must be applauded.
However, the worrying situation is the occasional reportage of purported half-truths or fallacies to the extent that even a pure white object is described as near white.
The factors germane to this phenomenon of partisan journalism in the Gambian media space may be numerous but the first two that readily come to mind are:
The desire to exaggerate and dramatize the news item and be the first to report news items for popularity and commercial reasons make media practitioners engage in partisan journalism.
In The Gambia, so much importance is attached to the media to the extent that on August 25, 2021 President Adama Barrow signed access to information (ATI) Act. The law is the first step towards enabling the right to access to information in The Gambia.
The Gambia Media Council setup by the Gambia Press Union makes it obligatory for media houses to publish rejoinders to correct and apologize for untruthful publications.
For the past election year media houses and practitioners have been admirably instrumental in consolidating the democratic dispensation in Gambia and this is commendable.
We have not or ever witness election tension rises due to dramatization of media publications just to create sensations. A lot of political opponent teasing goes on especially on the campaign trail and some journalists report such phenomena verbatim without sieving out the unprintable ones.
We may be wrong but it seems that even though the GMC is a regulator, it is not biting hard enough when it comes to unprofessional journalism.
As the 4th estate of the realm in a democratic regime, the media must act professionally and ethically so as to be above reproach.
Whenever a media house affiliates itself to the government of the day or political parties, its neutrality is impaired and its sovereignty of professional reportage is lost.