Newly appointed Communication Minster , previous Interview : Journalists should serve the interest of the public at large: Dr. Negeri Lencho -(Featured)

Journalists should serve the interest of the public at large: Dr. Negeri Lencho -(Featured)
Of late, The Ethiopian Herald held an exclusive interview with Dr. Negaeri Lencho, Assistant Professor of Journalism & Communication at Addis Ababa University, on issues related to the recent visit of U.S President Barrack Obama to Ethiopia and his historic speech at African Union. Excerpt;
Herald: What is the significant of President Obama’s visit to Ethiopia and his speech at AU?
Dr. Negeri: As I understand, President Obama is symbol I can say which African leaders can benefit a lot because of the affiliation he has with the Africans. Because of the fact that he represents most of the powerful nation in the world. The theme that he addressed of has paramount important to African leaders. Because he is not simply critical of the leaders but he appeared to be a good friend who advised them to improve their limitations basically fostering democracy and freedom of speech or freedom of press in general. Therefore, I can say his speech has a great influence on the future of African leaders. He was trying to promote the advancement of rule of law that means African leaders so far not all of them but some of them are not willing to hand over power peacefully to their successors. Not only handing over power but also they so far have wrong self-concept thinking that they are the only one who determine the fate of their nation, telling them to nurture young leader’s takeover. Therefore, I can say that Obama’s speech can have a significant effect on those who are willing to take it.
Herald: In his Message to African leaders, President Obama conveyed a clear message that they have to relinquish power when the office terms come to end without giving lame excuses. But some critics say that he is uttering this for public relations consumption. United States is always putting its national interests at the expanse of real democracy in most African countries. What is your view on this point?
Dr. Negeri: Yes, some may view his speech suspiciously. Some may be skeptical of his comments. His speech is a genuine one. It was not delivered for the sake of public relations or diplomacy purpose. His visit by itself is not mere public relations or diplomatic objectives, but, I can see he is genuine. America is not there to do the jobs of Africans. What he did was he was publicly promoting transfer of power democratically. What else can he do? What others are suspicious about is that America is working with any African government as long as it serves American interest. History tells us, no matter that the government is either dictator or democrat, America gives priority to its interest. I think this is true for any countries. I do not think that America is working for heaven. They protect America’s interests. But, it is up-to African leaders to look at their long term benefits from peaceful transfer of power and nurturing the youth that a country can be stable. Peace and stability in their own region benefit their generation and country as a whole.
I can say that America values democracy than dictatorship. But, if the culture of some nations may not allow them to promote democracy, America sometimes may not like to lose that nation because of geopolitical reasons so that we have to leave that to the Americans. Although, it is possible to read that way as others who are suspicious of his comment, it is up-to African leaders to do their assignment. I think the idea is real and has to be practiced.
Herald: In a bid to strengthen and develop democratic cultural in Africa, President Obama urged Africans not to put journalists behind bars? In the Ethiopian context, what should be the roles of private and state journalists?
Dr. Negeri: I think we should not take it as granted, the idea of freeing journalist or practicing the profession Obama was advancing the view that there has to be press freedom, if democracy has to prosper in Africa that is the principle elsewhere but when we come to Africa, there are problems of media institutions as well as journalistic professionalism readiness and government willingness. So one party alone should not be blamed for the problem. Understand that the government has to do something to make the operating environment conducive for journalists to practice their profession. They can contribute to the development of democracy in Africa but as the same time, there is something that Obama may not understand the problem of this idea of tribal journalism or tribalism, if we can say it. Some ambitious journalists not ready to advance the interest of the larger public but simply serving the narrow interest of certain group. Journalism is not there simply to advance the interest of some particular group or nation. Journalists should first understand what is the real problems of an African nation like Ethiopia or Kenya whatever. Ethiopian journalists should understand the real problem of Ethiopia whether economic, social or political problem as a nation. Journalists should advance the views in which Ethiopia could get rid of these problems. In Ethiopia or elsewhere there are sectors , journalists affiliated with various sectors. If they affiliate with opposition, I can say not all journalists but some of them may not want to see the ruling party existing in that country. They want get rid of that by any means that is not possible. If they affiliate with the government or the ruling party, they do not want to see any deviant voice or any alternative voice. If journalists assume or perceive their role as if serving one sector, it can be a political party or business organization that is not journalism therefore, I think the profession has to change and the environment, the state or public private media should first make journalism as profession. Something which has to serve the profession or lead-star the journalists. It should not to be affiliated with this party or that party. The profession has to be in the middle as I understand. At the same time the organizational standards or the media standards in different African countries have varied media standards to the extend that the journalists seem to serve different nations they reflect different countries than the same country. Because of different organizational standard what I am saying is that government as well as the media institutions and individual journalists are responsible not only Obama’s comment about jailing or not to jail journalists. We have to ask why does a government in any African countries jail journalists. Are they real journalists or genuine journalists or else? They affiliate simply with a particular ideology and not willing to see other alternatives, if that is the case, the so called journalists may not be democrat by themselves because they do not tolerate deviant view and they simply want to have or see one dominant opposition or government. If there is a means to improve our attitude towards journalism, can be the society, political parties, leaders also journalists themselves. If our attitude is changed, may be in the near future, we may not see any journalist being jailed for what he writes because they take responsibility for what they do.
Herald: Some say President Obama’s speech is more of warning and giving orders, therefore it won’t bear fruits. What is your comment on this?
Dr. Negeri: I think it depends on the reader. Those who consider Obama as a real partner, Obama is not simply a US President but also he is son of Africa as he was saying. He is not giving orders as to me, he is providing advice for Africans to have bright future. It can be warning for those who are not willing to change status quo that means if we take pride simply in our dictatorship may resist the message but if we think that what we are doing in compare to what Obama ought us to be, we are not in right position if we understand our mistake. I think we can learn a lot from what Obama said for those who say we know what good for Ethiopia and Africa, it is up to them to read that way. From the beginning Obama is not in the position to dedicate Africans leaders because these-days, we live in different world by no means except economic pressure. The advice is there in the literature, not in Obama’s speech, It is in democratic literature, in economic literature. In short, Obama’s speech is genuinely advice of close friend. (The Ethiopian herald)