One Scribe's Vision and My Response

Recently, the Uganda Journalists Association held an event to mark the World Press Freedom Day [3rd May every year] at which our President was invited to officiate. By the end of the day, His Excellency pledged Shs 150 million to UJA [which in reality, is a dead association that hardly many Ugandan journalists are even members or care about]. Of course, there were many arguments for and against like this one below [which was also posted on Facebook]...I was pushed to respond to the author, which you can read below the article.


In defence of Museveni's donation to Uganda Journalists Association
by Julius Mucunguzi
................
I wish to comment on the several letters and opinions that I have read in newspaper pages recently regarding Uganda Journalists Association's invitation of President Museveni to grace one of their events and the subsequent contribution of funds to the association.

Most of the commentary, have been critical of Museveni's contribution and have advised that the association should have rejected the money, apparently to maintain their journalistic independence.

While I respect the views of those who hold that stance, I wish to state that to me this seems to be a simplistic way to define what determines journalistic independence.

My view is that journalistic independence starts with the individual reporter, and goes on to the media house and ultmately the media industry. One of the writers infact even tried to use the US and UK as stars when it comes to maintaining journalistic independence. I think it is confusing matters.

First of all, it is wrong to confuse journalistic independence with being critical to government alone all the time. Infact there are those who say that the greatest threat to media independence today may not necesarily be the state. People who hold this view say that big businesses, advertising, media owners, civil societies, greed, and lack of professional training threaten the freedom of journalists to freely express themselves. I know dictatorships in some newsrooms where reporters fear to even state what they believe in while doing their work.

Would my friends have complained if the journalists association had invited some chief executive of a big and rich multinational company to grace the occassion and subsequently received money from him or her? Or what if they had invited and got the money from an ambassador of a rich country? Would the critics say that it is not proper, because the journalists might now be in the pockets of a foreign country---praising it for valuing press freedom and vilifying their own country?

A number of Ugandan journalists have been beneficiaries of training and travel bursaries from foundations, embassies and trusts--both local and foreign--recieving money and stipends from them: should we say that because of this, they are not independent and objective in reporting matters affecting countries from where these bodies are based? I hope not.

So why should someone think that by the association receiving money from the President, the journalists will be cowed into submission and will be less objective and independent while covering government business? That would be an insult to the journalists.

For those who prefer to use the USA example, please be informed that only as recently as two days ago, President Obama hosted a dinner for the White House Correspondents Association--at the government expense. I don't not think that that party will in any way affect the way these reporters will cover Obama's president. Neither should the shs 150 million in Uganda.

To the journalists association I say: receive funding from all credible sources, and this definately includes from government officials, businessemen, charities, NGOs, individuals, etc. Use the money productively, set up a Press Club from where you can coordinate the association activities, and continue asking legitimate questions to all centres of power: government, civil societies, private sectors, etc.

Julius Mucunguzi is a Ugandan journalist and media scholar currently working in the UK.

My brief is here:

I think the author is far removed from reality. First of all, what does UJA do anyway...it is a lame duck association just like the other journalists associations that have either hibernated or died, NIJU, UNEPA. There are two things we can be sure of (1) That money like all other presidential pledges/brown envelopes will take ages to come but most... Read more likely, won't (2) If it the money 'materialises', there will be squabbles among the executive on sharing it.

Julius, I can't believe you can be so naive about the status of journalism in Uganda yet you practised it for some years. The objectivity of the media is constantly being eroded, both by the fourth estate itself and other external factors [like you mentioned, big business, adveritsing, government...etc]. You definitely know that journalists associations are not vibrant...let's say like the lawyers and medical practitioners' organisations. I would rather that we, as members of the fourth estate, sought ways of mobilising ourselves.