African Journalism versus the Culture of Silence

THE "CULTURE OF SILENCE" we so often refer to is better understood as a "conspiracy of silence" that prevents a known situation or issue from being publicly acknowledged, veteran Ghanaian journalist Fred Chidi told a TMP-sponsored gathering of journalists in Accra earlier this month.

Under this regime of silence, taboo, shameful or abhorrent subjects may only be indirectly discussed through the use of politically correct code words or euphemisms, said Chidi, the head of news and current affairs for TV Africa.

Examples of the culture of silence are everywhere in Africa. There is no acknowledgement of war crimes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire.  War atrocities are complicated by hidden breaches of human rights, such as vanishing persons, extra judicial killings and torture.  And social conditions – gang crimes, drugs or other unlawful activity - enjoy impunity.

In these cases, people speak in coded language.  Personal problems, such as the alcoholism of an influential individual, conditions considered shameful by the culture at large, such as witchcraft and child abuse in the Church are talked around, not addressed directly, Chidi explained.  Controversial matters are buried under refusal to discuss, or they are not treated with appropriate seriousness.

One of the essential tools for dealing with a culture of silence, Chidi believes, is for media to have clearly articulated principles of professionalism and expectations for quality work. 

Chidi proposed the following principles as the basis for a comprehensive understanding of media professionalism:

* Report what is truthful, accurate, balanced and comprehensive, based on the principles that journalists can express themselves freely;
* Autonomy and opportunity for journalists to practice their craft without undue interference from external forces;
* Respect individuals' right to privacy and human dignity;
* Avoid publication of material that encourages discrimination on the grounds of race, religious affiliation, gender or sexual orientation;
* Take caution in investigating and reporting stories on vulnerable groups, such as children, women, disabled;
* Protect confidential sources of information;
*Encourage training and continuous improvement of reporting skills;
* Avoid plagiarism by quoting accurately and citing the sources.

Unfortunately, and despite increasing professionalization, media in Ghana have been subjected to the conspiracy of silence for many years.

Media struggled mightily during the independence era, as described by Kwame Nkrumah and the Big Six, a set of prolific writers for The Evening News. Since then, Ghana's media have undergone an uneven journey through the years, even enjoying periods relative freedom until the military interventions in the 60s & 70s.