A Simple note to policy makers and development practitioners
Today the world is encountering remarkable challenges in promoting social justice governance, democracy, transparency, press freedom, and economic development. Social Justice is essential for the long-term sustainable development of any nation. The media, as an important information source, plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy democracy and a socially just community. I can state without fear, that there exists a dilemma in conceptualizing social justice and peace. Political leaders and other actors like scholars, civil servants, and
international development organizations confront such challenges by defining social justice, peace, and good governance within their interests and scope of work.
There has been little systematic effort to holistically explore the nexus involving the media, social justice, and governance. With the spread of modern communication technology and the existence of an unfettered and independent press, the media is essential for democratization and guaranteeing good governance through freedom of expression, transparency, accountability, rule of law, and providing a pluralist platform for political expression about controversial issues. The media, therefore, frames and influences public perception of social justice and good governance.
For instance, in Uganda, our media has tried tremendously to play the role of watchdog. Some vigilant press actors have proved capable of monitoring political officials and institutions that are supposed to remain transparent and accountable because citizens believe that the press should inform them about government misdeeds. A lot of investigative journalism efforts have helped unearth wrongdoing by public officials and I think this is commendable because it allows us to nurture a culture of transparency and accountability by exposing corruption, maladministration, and abuse of power.
An organized media is very crucial in civically informing citizens about their freedoms and responsibilities. It can be a civic forum for political debate, facilitating informed citizens’ political knowledge and political efficacy. In this way, the media plays a critical role in connecting the state and citizens through debates and discussions about major political and social issues, as well as informing the public about the stance of their leaders on such issues. If channels of communication reflect the cultural and social pluralism and diversity of society, then various opinions and voices could be represented and heard in the public sphere. This is crucial for any society.
In this sense, a free and independent press encourages the development of a rational and informed public opinion, which is also helpful to check state power.
As agenda setters, the media has the power to set a nation’s agenda and divert public attention to certain key political issues. I have seen this happen. Without pointing at specific incidents, not only do citizens acquire information about public affairs from the media, but they also learn how much importance to attach to an issue according to the emphasis the news media has placed on specific issues or events. The media playing the agenda-setting role in democracies is ideally expected to inform elected officials about public concerns by raising their awareness on such issues. In terms of developing countries, for instance, the press is considered to play a more important role in highlighting crucial issues, which require urgent action taken by either the government or other development actors, making their decisions more effective and responsive to the social needs.
I also think that from an advocacy point of view, the media may also pressure the government to quickly respond and take effective actions to solve certain dramatic political controversies such as scandals, corruption, and political crises, etc.
Therefore, the media being a watchdog, civic forum, and agenda-setter, promotes social justice and good governance by facilitating government transparency and accountability, checking of the abuse of power, strengthening the public sphere, and highlighting policy failures, maladministration, scandal, and corruption by decision-makers within both the public and private domain, and this goes far in spurring development.
All actors in any of these spheres must thus appreciate this reality and seek to facilitate the same. Citizens must always be alert to make the best use of the media output. Leaders must always ensure that they steer clear since their output is what the media amplifies to the public. The media itself must take this opportunity, to occupy its right place, appreciate the role it plays and be intentional in promoting social justice, transparency, accountability, peace, and good governance for the good of society.
Alexander Kyokwijuka
Advocate for social justice, peace, and good governance and the Executive Director at Youth Aid Africa, Uganda – akyokwijuka@gmail.com