World Press Freedom Day: A look at the editor’s desk

A day ahaed of the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, it may interesting to share what a day in the life of an editor feels like.

For the purposes of clarity, we are talking of managing editor, the chap responsible for the daily production of a newspaper, TV, radio or online content. These roles are obvious not rolled into one. They are different jobs for different people.

The editor is a creature that is perpetually performing a delicate balancing act as he makes the big news decisions of the day.

Media houses answer to three powerful forces whose demands can only be met by a “Michukian” liver juggler.

The government of the day invariably wants the media to tell stories that massage the egos of the officialdom. Conflict is to be downplayed however adverse its effects are on the well-being of society. This might entail pressure not to name feuding Cabinet Ministers. Or report on discontent in the police force.

Sometimes the government is right at least from a self-preservation point of view. Or even genuinely. The less people read about feuding generals in the midst of a war with a hostile neighbour the better it is for the government and the brass button fraternity.

Problem is, the public has a constitutional right to know what is going on in the government and its constituent departments. An informed citizenry, it is argued, is easily governed but this truism is not set on granite. Informed citizens are an inquisitive lot constantly questioning trends and happenings. Aware of their civil rights, especially the right to information, they will not take No for an answer from a government.

The editor who gives the public a raw deal by way of comprised journalism as he pampers to the whims of politicians and other powerful interests will soon see a drop in readers, viewers and listeners; and his job on the chopping board.

Besides pressure from the government and the public, the editor will also have to grapple with certain commercial realities. The interests of big budget advertisers for instance, which the commercial wing of the media house might support in order to meet its targets.

Shareholders might find it in their interests to have certain matters downplayed to the chagrin of the editor who thinks he has the story that will hoist him above the crowd. That will sell the paper; that will tremble viewership and listeners; that will boost on-line traffic.

And when push comes to shove matters can get pretty ugly. The memory of off-air KTN, NTV and Citizen TV is all too fresh in many minds. The state was against their live coverage of Raila Odinga’s swearing-in and did everything it could to stop it.

According to www.un.org/en/events/pressfreedomday the World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.”