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Globalisation, Independent Media and Development in Africa

What Africa needs most for its growth and development is a more democratic media system. The current structure of independent and government-owned media cannot usher in a well-informed African continent, says Winters Negbenebor of the 'Nigeria Independent Media Centre'.

Dark continent, black people, under-develop nation, poverty-ridden race, unsustainable local communities, sickness, Aids, famine, drought, hunger etc. have over the years been attributed to the Africa continent. From Libya to South Africa, Egypt to Nigeria ... irrespective of colour variation, the global media known to be on payroll of globalisation propellers give us names, change our opinions and make our beds before the world as a people ridden in abject poverty and diseases. They suppress our cry for total emancipation and freedom of our environment, communities, local market and democratic rights from the tight fists of economic globalisation. Africa - a nation sold for bread. A press bought by the strong, rich and mighty.

Quoting John Swainton, of the New York Times at his retirement party in September 2000: 'There is not one of you who would dare write his honest opinion. The business of journalism is now to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, fall at the feet of Mammon and sell himself for his daily bread. We are tools, vessels of rich men behind the scenes, we are jumping jacks. They pull the strings; we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are the properties of these men. We are intellectual prostitutes.' This statement completely gives a clear presentation of present day media across the globe-whether North or South.

In Africa the media is a tool for propelling development and globalisation, it determines how these different words are used and impact our lives. It directs our political and civil rights. Put powers in the hands of the rich and poverty in the hands of the less privilege. Though this evil contribution of media to the destruction of the African continent it is also on record that the media has contributed to the present achievement made in recent years in the region. Every minute a journalist is either been harassed, imprison or killed.

Statistic shows that between 1985 and 1995, out of the 456 journalists killed around the world, fifty-three journalists were killed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The case of Nigeria is even of more concern presently as killing of journalist for reporting the truth is no longer new in the country. From military junta to democratic government of president Olusegun Obasanjo the story remains same, as no remarkable achievement have been made to enhance freedom of the press and access to information. A recent 2001 annual report of 'Reporters Without Boarders' shows that in 2001 in Nigeria alone one journalist was killed (Rockfeller Okeke), one journalist jailed (Nnamdi Onyenua), three journalists arrested (Sam Chindah, Rosemary Nwisi, Victor Orilola) and seventeen journalists were attacked. This recent oppressions on Nigeria journalist even in a government that claims to be democratic is a complete neglect on the right to inform the public and to be informed, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amidst these oppression and lots of brutality re-echoes a very many years question: 'Who killed Dele Giwa?', editor in-chief of Newswatch with a letter bomb.

Current events within the corridor of powers in Nigeria and other countries also shows that African governments due to their quest for power prefer to use African local media to their personal political ambitions and that they are not interested in the utilisation of the media for local people empowerment. This was recently confirmed in Nigeria as the government through its information minister warns all foreign journalist of its anger if found reporting any news they claim deforming to their government ... though it is also on records that after the threat the government greased all threatened journalists with what many journalist called bribe immediately after the threat.

Though the growing threat on media, there is no doubt that media revolution enhanced by digital / Internet connectivity is currently sweeping across the entire African continent, breaking barriers and passing information and news across to local people just like in many other develop nations of the world. Internet based media is gradually gaining grounds as the digital bridge is currently been built across the globe. 'Nigeria Independent Media' is one of such media currently operating in Nigeria - giving people assess to be the media , replacing the present corporate media structures and violating editorial pattern media reporting, even while encouraging open publishing where all can have equal rights to expressing views and also having access to all information as published by others. Only truly independent media, free from local dictatorship laws and degrees, can give birth to a real a sound African society, completely free from marginalisation, inequality, exploitation and oppression of local people - a truly empowered society.

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