A professional group, Nigerian Media Professionals Watch Forum has urged the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC to release its professional harmer on one of the anchors of ARISE Tv’s “The Morning Show”, Mr. Rufai Oseni over his heated verbal exchange with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi during a recent Live-on-Air interview.
Recall that during the said interview a hot exchange of words had occurred between the two when Rufai accused Umahi of reporting him to “the President” before querying the minister on how much was the cost per kilometer of the coastal highway project of the President Tinubu administration.
In statement it titled, Setting the records straight on the thin lines between Public Accountability, Professionalism and Activism in Journalism issued on its behalf today in Abuja, however, the National Coordinator of the group, Kabiru Dada said the recent war of words between one of the hosts of Arise Tv’s “The Morning Show”, Mr. Rufai Oseni and the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has ostensibly triggered a fierce debate on the difficulty to distinguish but yet veritable thin line between the standards of modern journalism practice and radical activism in the media’s quest for public accountability.
It said, “The Show is over but definitely not the polemics, including the diverse reactions and counter-reactions across various mainstream and social media platforms.
Some sections of the diverse Nigerian public who watched the live interview, especially honest members of the fourth estate of the realm can agree that while holding those in power to account is a cornerstone of the press, a closer look at the exchange raises critical questions about journalistic ethics and professional conducts. In other words, media practitioners must draw the thin line between making an honest inquiry and direct accusation.”
The group argued that this must be seen to be reflected first; in the mode, mood and framing of questions by an interviewee in lieu or hope of anticipation of answers from the interviewed as according to them, “Failure to so distinguish this thin line separates journalism from radical activism and the latter in such cases often degenerate to adversarial and antagonistic journalism.”
The group expressed its concern to the effect that immediately the buck was passed to Oseni Rufai to ask the Minister questions, he became confrontational in his questioning mode and style.
“This confrontational style and the heated nature of the questioning arguably made many viewers perceive a predetermined bias.
Even though professionally speaking Rufai may have a genuine cause to seek clarifications on the claims that the Honourable Minister of Works reported him to Mr. President, he lost it when he started with that accusation”, they argued, adding;
“The palpable tension and emotional escalation from the anchor’s end suggested in the reasoning of discernible minds, a loss of professional composure, which indeed, undermined the credibility of the entire exchange.
While reiterating that the ethics and techniques of professional interviewing go beyond interrogation, the group further opined that they require balance, empathy and above all; respect for guests.
“Though a passionate broadcaster, Rufai ought to be better schooled that journalism is not about attacking interviewees but about asking relevant, objective, and thought-provoking questions that inform and enlighten the audience. It must be well-stated that the journalist is not the story and his role is to inform the public and challenge power while remaining objective.”
The media body further held that it was first and foremost, Rufai’s non-adherence to the foundational principles of journalistic interview’s ethical code of conduct that led to the altercations, claiming that, ” it was more like a pugilist turning a live-on-air interview into an apparent boxing ring where literal punches, instead of a veritable platform for clarifications on a major national infrastructure project became the ugly order of the day.”
It said whereas for the layman, Rufai’s pugnacious and combative disposition rather than inquisitive style of questioning may have presented the Minister as attempting to evade accountability to the Nigerian public, “the truth is that the common age-long parlance in journalism that the tone of a question can be an invitation for either clarity or conflict. This, according to the group is that thin line between professionalism and emotional control as against downright activism- the latter being the style adopted by the ace broadcaster.
It said it remained unarguable that there is nothing wrong with asking a public office holder like the Minister of Works about the cost per kilometer of a monumental infrastructure project like the coastal highway under his supervision and ministry. However, the overbearing approach of Rufai is deeply concerning for us as media professionals who spent many years in training and practice especially as regards the ethics and codes of conduct of the profession.
“Such an over-bearing composure only paints an ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’ scenario and the masses eventually lost out at last.”
Dada further emphasized that besides, even though many may hail Rufai as asking tough and probing questions to guests on the Show such as how much is the cost of the coastal highway per kilometer , it is wise to buttress that the same Minister Umahi had himself (not his aide or a representative) given a detailed and explanatory clarification in another appearance on the same ARISE Tv with Rufai as one of his hosts that providing an exact cost per kilometer for the gigantic project is inherently complex and even for those without an Engineering background, this is pretty understandable.
“And like Minister Umahi had explained during the said programme, the geographical variations and differing terrains along the route complicate precise costing. This is ordinarily a common sense understanding as certain areas would naturally require additional infrastructural elements, such as bridges or significant filling, which would definitely lead to fluctuations in costs, therefore necessitating a phased-budgeting approach.
It queried; given the above background, what again did Rufai want to achieve with rehashing this particular question?
“This, in addition to Rufai’s opening lines of accusation that the Minister reported him to the President must have explained why Minister Umahi may have rightly seen this repetition as not only unnecessary but a direct confrontation rather than a constructive inquiry”,the statement read.
The group said as practitioners in the field of journalism, “We feel as carefully buttressed above that Rufai Oseni as a Tv anchor indeed crossed some professional lines that provoked the instant reactions of the Minister of Works during the said interview.”
It said he could not have appointed himself both a prosecutor and a judge at the same time under the guise of journalism.
“As a matter of fact, those invited to the Show cannot be subjected to rude, ridiculous and partisan aggressions only reflective of intellectual showmanship and theatrics that are not known to the urbane and respectable culture of modern journalistic ethics and practice.”
The group added that the Rufai Vs. Umahi imbroglio further emphasizes why it is always advised that the media should self-regulate and self-sensor because freedom is not a license for lasciviousness.
“Freedom of expression is not a freedom to abuse, insult, discredit or incite. Regulation on the other hand is not also repression. It is rather the defence of sanity and national interest. This is why the interview and the welter of reactions and counter-reactions it has provoked should be sufficient enough to serve as a critical moment of reflection for both media practitioners and the public. The debate is very important now, more than ever before because the media’s role must remain to enlighten, not to incite; to inform and not to inflame!”
While concluding with a stern call for sanctions on Rufai and the Television station, the group maintained that every profession has its regulatory codes of conduct.
“This is why we are therefore calling on the broadcasting regulatory body, the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC not to sit on the fence on a matter as serious as this. It must not wait to be officially petitioned to look into conducts as witnessed during the recent ARISE Tv interview with Work’s Minister, Umahi and apportion blames or sanctions where necessary appropriately. Else, if the present trends and actions are left unchecked, we may see interviewees and interviewers exchange physical blows in a live-on-air programme on a national Television. For the media to maintain public trust, a recommitment to the core principles of objectivity, fairness, and emotional discipline is paramount! Today, it is Rufai versus Umahi, but who knows who could be the next bully victim?”, the statement concluded.
