On Wednesday as former Works Minister General Katumba Wamala communicated on social media to Ugandans about the sad attack that left his daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo dead, he revealed information that Dorah Atwongyeire was his official spokesperson. Atwongyeire is the online editor for Next Media Services which owns NBS, Nile Post and Next Radio among others.
Media experts have spoken against the rising trend of
journalists working as media advisors for individuals and organizations they are
supposed to hold accountable.
With the emergence of social media as a key space for communication and the need for
visibility in the traditional media, individuals and entities have sought the services
of journalists as media advisors.
The journalists have helped news sources like politicians,
businessmen, Government agencies, and religious institutions among others with organizing press conferences, writing press releases, developing
communication strategies, and also working as spokesperson for several institutions
and person while still in active newsrooms.
Others have gone on to become personal
assistants to news sources, completely crossing the boundaries.
Just last year, Sheila Nduhukire while working as a Journalist with NBS TV worked as a lead
communications strategist for Hoima Sugar and her role was defending the company that was
investing in a sugarcane plantation in a 22 Square mile land in the contested Bugoma forest. This
however, led to wide criticism from some members of the public who said she was
sweeping her communications career down the trenches.
Another case was that of journalist Charles Etukuri. Working as a senior Journalist at the New Vision, Etukuri also managed several
accounts of top Government officials including that of former Inspector General
of police Kale Kayihura. When this information came out, several people
including journalists in the different platforms said Etukuri was overstepping
the mark of a journalist.
On Wednesday as former Works Minister General Katumba Wamala
communicated on social media to Ugandans about the sad attack that left his
daughter Brenda Nantongo and driver Haruna Kayondo dead, he revealed information
that Dorah Atwongyeire was his official spokesperson. Atwongyeire is the online
editor for Next Media Services which owns NBS TV, Nile Post online news and Next Radio among others.
This raised concern from several media literate Ugandans on
twitter who challenged media houses for allowing their workers to work for sources
they should be questioning.
“The online editor of a "top media house" is also the official
spokesperson of a top general in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF). How
does the media house, which claims to be private and independent, fight off the
rampant accusations of being captured or a tool for state propaganda?” a social
media user asks.
The post would generate discussions forcing General Katumba
or his social media handler to delete the post, which also had contact of
Dorah Atwongyeire for anyone who wants to reach Katumba to call.
Now media experts say that journalists cannot remain
credible if they work with them or for them.
Dr Peter Mwesige, the Executive Director African Centre for
Media Excellence (ACME) says that it is not okay for journalists to work for
the same people they cover. He says this is questionable and it does not
inspire confidence in the public that journalists are doing their work.
Mwesige says that if he were in charge of a newsroom, he
would not allow his employees to do so, adding that they will have to declare
their interest, but also this has to be very clear. He says if a journalist
wants to be a media advisor, he should quit journalism.
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Dr William Tayebwa, a senior lecturer in the Department of
Journalism and Communications at Makerere University says that working for
companies and individuals yet one is a journalist without declaring a conflict
of interest is unethical.
Tayebwa says that the fact that conflict of interest is not
declared makes it unethical. He says that the bar is higher for journalists
because they are supposed to hold the very people to account.
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Dr. George Lugalambi a media expert says that a journalist
working for powerful people and Government officials that they are supposed to
cover breaches the basic principles of journalism of conflict of interest.
He says that any professional journalist worth their name
should not be speaking for an individual who is likely to be the subject of
coverage by the same media house.
He says that this is avoidable and but this is being done
willingly and intentionally. He says journalists lose impartiality if they
are to report about the individuals. Lugalambi says that if there are
functional systems in media houses, they should not allow this.
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On his part, Charles Etukuri who was once managing an account
of former IGP Kale Kayihura says that it is possible for one to handle the communications
for such people, and still report on them. According to Etukuri, although he
was handling Gen Kayihura’s social media accounts, he was still writing stories
about him.
“As one of the people running the accounts of the former
IGP, I still wrote tough stories about him. Some times you are basically
communicating the person’s itinerary and daily events. Some time we do not
handle these accounts for the purpose of pay, but because they know you have
some bit of time and expertise” he says.
He says that it is true that sometimes someones gets taken
up, starting to defend the sources, attacking anyone who comments on the person
among others.
“If you are having it professionally, you will work it out.
I don’t think there is anybody who has handled police stories more than me, yet
I was handling Gen Kayihura’s account, the key thing is do not cross the line”
Etukuri says.
