The media serve people’s interests rather than politicians’- Dany Iraguha

Yesterday in the studios of the Radio Isango Star, Dany Iraguha told the audience that foremost duty of the media is to serve the interests of the population rather than expressing the willingness and political plans of the politicians.

In the show were invited Fidel Gakire, Dany Iraguha and Fulgence Niyonagize all being journalists. The motion of the debate consisted on assessing the reasons why information access is a challenge to both journalists and to the rest of the population.

Solange Ayanone, the presenter of the show, asked the withholding of information is laid upon the law or if it comes from one’s carelessness or unwillingness.

Dany Iraguha responded that the Law N 04/2013 obliges every news holder to provide it to media as to help the general public learn about what is taking place both at national and international levels.

He nevertheless pointed out that high officials from state entities provide needed information on issues under their responsibilities, adding that the problem remains crucial at their subordinates who withhold the information from the media.

Gakire said that for the officials to provide the information, it requires them to have an inner willingness and open mindedness.

The law in itself can’t make responsible people provide information. They also need to be open-minded and willing to do so, Gakire said.

He added that journalists at their sides do have information but they ask the politicians more clear details as to help the rest of the population acquire more insights on the ongoing situations.

Solange Ayanone brought another issue that most of politicians say, meaning that the journalists do focus on negative side of the situations.

According to politicians, this discourages them from providing the information journalists are searching for, Ayanone said.

Editors are the ones who decide on the type and the angle of news coverage they want. Decision makers are not in good position to impose on journalists about which topic to cover, Gakire has underlined.

For  Dany, this behavior of decision makers results  from a misunderstanding about the role of journalism.

We, journalists work as the watchdogs that regulate the interactions between decision makers and population, Dany pointed out.

If politicians want media to only report on their positive achievements, they therefore have to pay for advertorial pages of a given media house and pay for it. Our first and foremost duty is to advocate for the interests of the population, not of the politicians, Iraguha Dany reminded.

Another important issue was discussed during the debate, that journalists sometimes urge the decision makers to provide them with money so that a story can be written down.

Both Iraguha and Gakire said that this behavior is unprofessional and against the ethics that regulates the profession.

Dany Iraguha urged media houses’ owners to be both technically and economically well equipped as to provide the journalists with all necessary support for the fulfillment of their duties.

The listeners said that one of the reasons that push journalists to behave unprofessionally is the lack of a personal and individual integrity.

At the international level, the discussants talked about the Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamist group that keeps killing and kidnapping people in the Northern part of Nigeria.

The show takes place every Sunday from 2 to 3 PM and it discusses to key points that have characterized the breaking news both at national and at international scenes.

UM– USEKE.RW