Ethiopia is known as a multiethnic country, in which its population is composed of many ethnic groups. Each group has its own unique culture, norm, language, tradition, religion, and way of life. The country’s peacefulness and harmonious relationships among different ethnic groups, therefore, can be conserved by promoting unity among the people. Media institutions, on the other way, are social institutions that are established to serve the society by gathering and reporting the news of the day.
They play constructive roles in today’s society by disseminating fact based information, aware and shape the public. Contrary to this, there are a number of times that media organizations have been contributing a lot in tearing apart the social cohesion of the communities or damaging relationships between the social groups composing diversified societies – be it in terms of “race”, ethnicity, religion, culture or gender.
This article, hence, aims to share the experience of countries those have different ethnic groups and the role of media in terms of promoting unity and tolerance as well as strengthening togetherness in diverse society. Naku John, Chief Executive Officer of Federation of Uganda Media Practitioners, told to The Ethiopian Herald that the main role of media is to inform, entertain and educate. Media plays an important role in uniting multi-ethnic groups and reinforcing belongingness.
He said that through recognition, dialogue, and participation, all the citizens of a diverse society can form a greater understanding of one another’s concerns. In that sense, Uganda has worked a lot to promote good relations between and among its diverse communities. According to him, in Uganda there are 52 tribes. These tribes have their own particular norms.
The media treat all these ethnic groups irrespective of any discrimination. Media should value and pay due attention for the social and cultural values of each ethnic group; and, it has to give emphasis to issues which could further strengthen the social fabric of the community and build up unity; instead of those things which cause hatred and lead the society to conflict.
“As a journalist, we do not have to publish or broadcast issues that might bring about undesirable impacts and tear apart our people. We should put into consideration as culture is very important to each one”, he indicated. Reporting reliable and unbiased information to the public in a time of violent conflict requires additional journalism skills and deeper understanding to dig out what causes conflict, how it develops and ends, he opined. Gwen Lister is a Namibian journalist, publisher, and press freedom activist. She was the Gwen Lister Editor of The Namibian Newspaper.
Currently she is serving as the Executive Chairperson of the Namibia Media Trust. She said that media is essential for every nations especially those countries with most ethnic diversity to maintain unity in diversity. “I am from a country of multiethnic groups, Namibia. We have more than 14 different language groups. We serve all these equally”, she indicated. The media’s responsibility in any country is to provide the citizens with unbiased and balanced discourse, coverage, and honest reporting.
Reporters and editors should strive to seek better understanding of conflicts through learning the craft and skills of conflict-sensitive journalism, she added. David Mikkelson, American, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Snopes Media Group (Snopes.com) – the internet’s largest and trusted source of dispelling rumors, face news, and urban legends. He said that media can be described as the main channel of mass communication.
Media are often used to deliver a message to a large audience who are diverse. “The media occupy an influential place in disseminating information, shaping attitudes, and motivating behavior,” he indicated. According to him, media has a unifying force. It can bring different ethnic groups together and support belongingness. Contrary, producing fake news and reporting irresponsibly and carelessly leads to conflict. So, media while reporting news must be careful, he said.
The Ethiopian herald May 15/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
