*Long Throw*
By George OZALLA
It is quite appalling to realize that the journalism profession, once revered for its commitment to truth-seeking and factual reporting, has sadly degenerated into a chaotic mess. Young, energetic people masquerading as journalists have infiltrated and turned the noble profession into a laughingstock. These individuals storm events, invited or not, with reckless abandon, boldly begging guests for money or hailing them like beggars on the street. This trend has become an embarrassment, making it impossible to distinguish between genuine journalists on assignment and opportunistic impostors.
As a responsible practicing journalist, you cannot even sit in peace to converse informally with acquaintances or guests without them swarming around you to either eavesdrop or think you want to collect money. The modus operandi of these self-styled journalists is to flood events with an intimidating presence, often coercing influential guests or politicians into parting with money under the guise of conducting and airing interviews using different mediums. However, these “interviews” are, in most cases, nothing more than a flimsy pretext for purely extorting money from unsuspecting guests.
Even when they receive money, their behavior is far from decent; it is akin to a volcanic eruption. They fight over the meager handouts, displaying a level of desperation that is both pathetic and repulsive. Their antics do not stop there. They have been known to chase after departing guests’ vehicles or convoys, creating a scene that is more akin to a gang of street urchins than professional journalists. In such environments, valuable gadgets and phones often disappear, leaving guests to wonder if they are at a high-profile event or a den of thieves.
This ugly trend has clearly brought the journalism profession into disrepute, especially in our clime. Genuine journalists, who work tirelessly and sometimes risk their lives to uncover the truth and hold those in power accountable, are lumped together with these charlatans. The public is left to wonder if all journalists are nothing more than a bunch of opportunistic beggars, more interested in lining their pockets than in pursuing the truth, rendering value, and informing the public.
But what is even more disturbing is the way these self-styled journalists or whatever group often intimidate genuine journalists, hijacking interviews and proceedings, causing confusion and crisis. Imagine a scenario where a legitimate journalist on assignment is trying to conduct an interview with a key figure in an event, only to be interrupted or pushed aside by these impostors. The genuine journalist’s work is disrupted, and the integrity of the event is compromised.
These include self-styled journalists who have no qualms about forcefully inserting themselves into legitimate interviews, asking completely irrelevant questions, and creating a ruckus. They have no regard for the hard work, passion, and dedication that goes into real journalism practice. The consequences of their actions are far-reaching. Usually, event organizers are left to grapple with the chaos they create, guests are left feeling vulnerable and exploited, and genuine journalists are left to pick up the pieces.
It is a toxic environment that undermines the credibility of the profession and creates a crisis of trust between the public and the media. Granted that there are public events meant for interested individuals to attend, there are also those who deliberately attend events to seek out genuine knowledge, information, contacts, connections, expand their business network, socialize, or have the opportunity to meet someone they may not have ordinarily met, with the best of intentions. And, of course, those who may genuinely need assistance and freelancers who could be accommodated as well. However, at the heart of it all must be decent conduct and behavior at public events, rather than roaming around and constituting a nuisance.
Our young people can do better than hailing seemingly successful individuals or politicians for paltry sums at public events, which is no vocation and is demeaning. If one actually feels bored and wants to socialize and probably crashes into an event, decorum, articulation, observation, and lesson must be their watchwords. Is it not better to arm oneself with a ready proposal, skills, or business card, exchange contacts and follow up, than all of these?
There is no need to run around like a headless chicken, disrupting the event, blocking views, speaking into guests’ mouths, genuflecting to attract pity, begging, and embarrassing oneself. And if one is truly a journalist, then do your job professionally and get rewarded eventually for your work; and it is not necessarily right there at the venue, rather than moving from one table to another in the name of interviewing guests and collecting money. The critical question is, “Are you running a marathon documentary interview that you cannot sit and respect yourself?” This behavior is not only unprofessional; it is also a reflection of a deeper societal problem that needs to be addressed. Until we can differentiate between genuine journalists and impostors, the profession will continue to suffer. The time has come for a change. The descent into gangsterism must be halted, and it is up to all stakeholders to ensure that journalism regains its former glory as a noble and respected profession. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and relevant authorities must take a proactive role in addressing this issue, re-examine its membership criteria, sanction erring members, and promote a culture of professionalism and ethics within the industry. Let the needful be done, and let the principles that journalism stands for be proudly upheld.
*Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of NEWSCOUNT
